Four girls from Elite Dance Academy in Port Alberni have been selected to perform at provincials in Kamloops from May 29 to June 1.
For Graci Asher, Zaya Cole and Jordan Simpson, this is their second time winning a provincial spot. For Roxy Manson, it is her first invitation to provincials.
Asher, age 13, is a level 1 stage rep who will be performing lyrical jazz and tap. She has been dancing since she was three years old, and her next goal is to continue to improve and learn as much as she can.
Dancing is where Asher gets to feel the most like her best self. It gives her the confidence to feel like she can do anything.
“To me dancing is like breathing,” said Asher. “I couldn’t live without it.”
Cole, age 14, is going to provincials for modern level II, and has also been dancing since she was three. Cole likes to dance because it’s a way to express herself, it challenges her and it’s fun. Her future goals are to dance in a dance company and to be better than her brother, Holden, who is a world champion dancer.
Simpson, age 13, is going to provincials for level 1 modern and contemporary. Simpson started dance at the age of three, and knew she was going to dance for the rest of her life.
Her goal is to become a modern contemporary dancer and to continue to learn and grow as a dancer. Her teachers are the ones who have inspired her to work hard and believe in herself.
“I like to dance because it makes me feel like I’m in a different world,” said Simpson. “It makes me so happy and calms me.”
Manson, age 12, is in grade 6 ballet, and will be the level 1 ballet representative from Elite. Ballet has always been her favourite style of dance, and she has been dancing since the age of two. As soon as she could walk, she was dancing.
Manson says she loves dancing because of the feeling of being on stage. “When I’m performing on stage, I don’t think, I just dance,” she said.
Two other girls were runners up for provincials. Nyah Fox was a runner up for provincials from North Island performing arts for intermediate stage, and Olivia Fox was a runner up for provincials from North Island Performing Arts and Powell River for senior level stage. Both have attended provincials before.
The girls will also be dancing in Port Alberni during Elite’s year-end show on June 16 and 17.
elena.rardon@
albernivalleynews.com
