Dancers from Terrace have returned from the 43rd Annual Prince George Dance Festival between March 16 to 22.
Both Free Elements Dance Company and Art in Motion Dance Studio competed in the festival showcasing multiple performances that brought in dozens of wins altogether.
The two dance studios had their company dancers take part in a range of categories, from jazz, lyrical, hip hop, acrobatics, ballet and many more.
Art in Motion tallied up 27 first place certificates, 21 in second place and 14 for third place, along with 11 trophies.
Free Elements gathered 12 first place certificates, 17 in second place and 13 for third place, plus three trophies.
READ MORE: Free Elements presents annual dance showcase
“I think they’re really proud of themselves and can see that hard work pays off,” says Jessica Ames, co-owner and co-director of Free Elements Dance Company. “Some of our dancers dance upwards of 14 to 16 hours a week, so it’s good to just get the recognition and self-satisfaction of performing and doing a really great job.”
For Free Elements, this is the first time they have registered 22 dancers to compete in the festival. As a new dance studio now entering their third year, they were only able to send a handful amount in the previous years due to travel costs.
Ames says she’s glad that more of their dancers have the chance to experience the Prince George Dance Festival, as it’s one that provides a lot of good feedback from the adjudicators and pushes them to become better.
“It’s one of the festivals that we really look forward to all year,” she says. “It’s really well-run, the competition is really strong, so it’s a huge opportunity for our dancers to grow.”
READ MORE: Pacific Northwest Music Festival readies for their 54th year
She adds in their studio, they see every win as a win for everybody.
“We’ve been really focusing on staying together as a team and staying positive.”
And when it comes to competing against Art in Motion at competitions, Ames says they’re all friends.
“We always want to cheer them on, the dancers go to school with one another so it’s just really fun to see what they’re doing artistically,” Ames says. “They’re a fantastic company, they work really hard and do well in their placings.”
Both dance studios will be performing in this year’s 54th annual Pacific Northwest Music Festival in Terrace, running from March 29 to April 2.
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RESULTS
Art in Motion Dance Studio:
BC Performing Arts Provincial Delegates
- Modern I — Ava Allen, Jade Brown
- Ballet III — Julian Hunt
Special Awards & Trophies
- Ballet Style and Presentation Award & Trophy — Julian Hunt
- Outstanding Dancer Performance 13-18 Award & Trophy — Braya Kluss
- Adjudicators Choice 8 & under Ballet Award & Trophy — Hannah Hansen
Dancer of the Day Summer Dance Intensive Scholarships
- Bronwen Bennett
- Braya Kluss
- Collin Maillet
Free Elements Dance Company:
Special Awards & Trophies
- Best Performance of Demi-Character Small Group age 10 & Under — “Le Petit Cafe”, choreographed by Jessica Ames
- Best Hip Hop Duet 18 & Under — “Look Alive”, by Brenna Menz and Paige Bowles, choreographed by Carley Cofield
- Dancer with Great Promise (chosen by PGDF adjudicators) — Brianna Onstein
natalia@terracestandard.com
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