Erin Haluschak
Record staff
It’s a trip to Fort St. John 10 dancers from Courtenay won’t soon forget.
The dancers are part of Triple Heat Dance - Academy of Performing Arts, and they are heading off to the BC Provincial Festival of Performing Arts in June.
“It’s kind of like the BC Games of dance,” explained Michelle Henly, one of the owners and ballet director of the academy.
“Dancers compete at local festivals and the winners of these are selected to go to the provincial festival held in a different location each year.”
Dancers Madison Lagan, 15, along with her peers Cassidy Chalk, 15, Kailyn Nottebrock, 14, and Kaitlyn Welsh, 13, are all attending provincials, and say they welcome the opportunity to compete at a high level.
“It’s not just a competition, but there’s also workshops and your work is adjudicated,” explained Chalk, who began dancing around two years old. “You sometimes get nervous, but it’s the adrenaline you get from performing that keeps you going.”
Nottebrock added “it’s just such an honour to excel in something you love to do.”
Owner and instructor Livea Gill said the goal of Triple Heat is to have students excel and allow them to be open to the versatility of performing onstage, whether that is in ballet or with musical theatre.
“The (dancers) are passionate about what they do, and it’s evident in these kids. They excel in all the competitions, but they are also very well-rounded humans,” she added with a smile.
The provincial competition is set for May 31 to June 4.
For more information, visit tripleheatdance.com.