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Dancers get ready to compete at Disneyland
In three weeks a group of 18 dancers will be strutting their stuff on stage in Disneyland. Between 11 and 17 years old, the girls have been practising their half hour non-stop routine at Joy’s School of Dance.
“The competition is so different down there,” explained Sarah Gerrard, 17, who went down during the school’s last big trip three years ago. “There’s huge crowds and the cameras are on you. It’s a little more intense.”
The school has travelled to the States every three years since 2003. Teacher Joy McIlwain said it gives the students a chance to experience something different and compete in a different way.
“Usually in competition they would perform one routine and then stop and come on later and do a different one.” At Disney, the girls will have one long continuous show, dance after dance without break, for a full half hour.
“And we get to say we’ve danced in Disneyland,” said Mikayla Dowler, 11, as the rest of the class smiled in agreement.
McIlwain said it’s not clear yet how many other schools they’ll be up against but said the biggest thing is the experience.
“Last time they went and did really well. I think it was a boost to their confidence to go down there and realize for a small town in Alberta, they’re keeping up with the others,” said McIlwain.
Besides the competition the girls will also participate in two shows and head to the Edge Performing Arts Centre for classes.
“It really gives us something else to experience. We have more of a group team feeling,” explained Brittany Landin, 15, of working with older and younger dancers from the school. “We try and do something all together every year but this gives us a chance to really be all tighter.”
The girls have been working on new choreography for the performance as well as the school’s signature dance they take with them every year in Disneyland. It’s performed to Walking on Sunshine.
The big show will combine all of their dancing styles — jazz, ballet, tap, acrobatic, lyrical and hip hop.
This Sunday at 3 p.m. the school will perform their show for the public at the Innisfail Alliance Church to share their show with the community. It’ll also give them one last chance to practise before they head down for the ten-day event.
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