Aaah, the life of a dancer on the Sunshine Coast - dancing in competition at the Massey Theatre in New Westminster last weekend, then racing for the last ferry without even knowing the final results until they arrived in the mail!
Nonetheless, the team of dancers from the Coast Academy of Dance in Sechelt did exceptionally well in their recent competition that took place on the heels of another competition at the Surrey Arts Centre, May 14 to 16. All of the team from the school earned high marks, all over 80 per cent. "Most importantly, we could see the improvement," says academy director Julie Izad. "They all represented their school and the Sunshine Coast with pride and enthusiasm." On top of the added strain of travelling to competition, many of the Coast dancers are under pressure to rehearse for their end of season recital, Timeless Dance, on June 5 and 6, plus keep their academic standard up in order to graduate this June.
This rigorous schedule has not deterred any of the young dancers, such as Grade 12 student Johanna Dalgleish, who was awarded a gold medal for her modern dance solo and for the most outstanding performance at the Surrey competition. On the Coast, she has also been chosen as the recipient of this year's Lois Smith Classical Ballet scholarship. Dalgleish grew up in a musical household and has always danced. She feels passionately about it, says her mother, and has chosen to continue with dance at the University of Guelph in the future along with her other studies in international development. Dalgleish, who has played an instrument since the age of five, is also part of Twisted Strings, some of the Coast fiddlers who recently accompanied dancers from Dominique's School of Dance when they performed during the Heartstrings show in April. The hip-hop dancers, choreographed by Mark Zealand, also won big. Trio, a group comprised of Austin Patterson, Sammie Broomhall and Rachel Berinstein picked up a gold medal. Maximum and Dionisis, two groups of dancers, also won gold medals. Fourteen-year-old Jeremy Izad was awarded a gold medal and adjudicator's choice for his solo. The jazz group, choreographed by Darlene Wolfe, won gold and bronze medals at the two competitions, while the jazz solos of Deborah Izad, Kirby Sinnott, Rachel Chapman and Austin Patterson also did very well.
The pointe group with choreographer Michele Starbuck received gold and silver in the respective competitions for a non-traditional piece of ballet. Based on the musical Chicago, the dance was received with enthusiasm.
The modern dance solos, choreographed by Izad, were also winners. Christina Fitchett won a silver medal, and Johanna Dalgleish a gold. In duets, Deborah Izad and Allison Powell picked up a silver medal for tap dance and Erika Wrightman and Rachel Berinstein received silver and gold plus awards for adjudicator's choice in tap and jazz.
The Coast Academy presents Timeless Dance this weekend, June 5 and 6, at 2 and 7 p.m. at the Raven's Cry Theatre in Sechelt. Tickets at $15 adults and $10 for students/seniors are available at Talewind Books, Roberts Creek General Store and at the door.
