CANMORE – A relatively little dance studio in Canmore showed that skill, flair and heart go a long way when up against big city clubs.
Everyone at Canmore Dance Corps was abuzz on Tuesday (April 23) following some smile-inducing victories at Dance Evolution in Calgary, a competitive regional event last weekend, when everything came together in artistic beauty for the mountain town dancers.
In their respective categories, the local club won first prize for their dance Sisters of Light, which subsequently earned the overall top choreography award of the three-day event, as well as winning bronze for their performance of No Man’s Land, which took bronze place in the choreography awards.
“It is actually quite a big accomplishment for us,” said owner and artistic director Jill Danielson.
Holding a newly-won trophy that’s nearly as tall as she is, Danielson added it’s not just about winning, but the big results are a reflection of quality and creativity coming out of Canmore Dance Corps.
“We have a competitive dance team of 39 dancers and this year we are presenting 40 different routines,” said Danielson. “In comparison, some of these massive studios from city centres can go there with 100, 200 dancers and they might perform hundreds of routines.”
With nothing short of a stand-out performance, one of the studio’s high school-aged competitors was awarded a dance scholarship only given to a few in a sea of hundreds.
“I’m pretty comfortable with all [forms of dance], but I really like jazz and hip hop the most,” said Tsukino Mori, who, for two years in a row, has won the 24 Seven Dance Convention workshop scholarship that tours the United States.
Two other local dancers, Harper Long and Addison Graff, were part of the gold and bronze medal dances where authentic storytelling shone through. Sisters of Light, a family of choice story, was an uplifting and energetic routine that inspired the judges, while No Man’s Land, based in the trenches of the First World War, was a more sombre tale.
With a spark in their voices, the pair said the top prizes have boosted morale, with the next two big season-ending competitions awaiting them.
“This year is the first time we’ve gotten first, ever, and we were so surprised,” said Graff. “It’s really inspiring to see the other studios sometimes, but it’s also intimidating because it’s like how can we do that, but winning this award is like we’re as good as them.”
“It’s very much a sisterhood because you have to have unison,” said Long. “The judges said it was a very powerful piece.”
Danielson put together the choreography for Sisters of Light, while Alexis Macintosh pieced together the routine for No Man’s Land.
Danielson said she goes with her gut instinct on what artistically and creatively she thinks will work with each group.
“I didn’t know how it would all pan out, but I knew that what they were doing out there was something very special,” said Danielson.
