Dozens of Sundre dancers recently dazzled audiences in Olds and brought home numerous accolades.
The Move Yourself Dance studio in Sundre has almost 100 students registered, of whom about 85 performed May 3-5 at the TransCanada Theatre during the Nova Dance Challenge. The event was a part of the Catch a Rising Star Dance Festival series and "was an amazing experience for all of our dancers,” said Heidi Overguard, an owner and instructor, praising their performance.
Among the numerous achievements were receiving the biggest crowd pleaser for the group’s advanced hip hop – Special Delivery, as well as the most memorable routine for their intermediate/advanced tap – Home, both of which were choreographed by Wendy Read from Sundre, said Overguard.
Madison Anderson, from Sundre, performs in the Celloopa advanced ballet, which won the group she danced with a high gold. Noel West/MVP Staff
Additionally, Rylee Rosenberger earned the highest score in the senior division solos. Mona Fazakas as well as Madison Anderson also both received a $2,000 Be Discovered scholarship while Evyn Read received a Pure Dance Convention scholarship, she said.
“This year is our 10th anniversary, and we have seen a huge amount of growth in our studio since we opened,” she said.
“The ability of our dancers and instructors is continually growing and they all are constantly amazing us each year.”
Several dancers from Sundre are taking part in exams with a Calgary studio, while others are involved with a hip hop company in the city called illFX, she said.
“But just generally as a small-town studio, they are constantly pushing themselves to improve and get better at the art of dance.”
From left: Ava Fricker, from Sundre; Sydney Mix, from Olds; Alli Jackson, from Sundre; and Hannah Turnbull, from Olds perform Irish Jig during the intermediate character ballet groups section. Noel West/MVP Staff
Alongside fellow owner and instructor Christine Rosenberger, Overguard said they both feel their dancers have experienced what she described as a tremendous year.
“Our dancers worked hard all year developing and refining their technique and performances. It is truly an honour to watch as these dancers push themselves to learn new skills, improve and build their technique, attend extra practices and work hard every single class to be the best they can be,” she said.
During every practice, the dancers work to further develop their strength, flexibility and body control as well as style and skill techniques, she said.
“The dancers inspire us every week with their willingness and eagerness to improve all aspects of their dance. The dancers show us exactly what hard work, focus and passion can accomplish — and that is amazing results.”
Registrations were up this year in all of the younger programs, which Overguard said has been “extremely exciting for us.”
There are almost 20 staff between the studio’s three locations — in Sundre, Olds and Trochu — and the past festival season has been “very, very successful,” she added.
A group from Move Yourself Dance with dancers from Olds and Sundre studios perform Outlander during the intermediate classical ballet groups section of the Nova Dance Challenge at the TransCanada Theatre in Olds on May 4. Noel West/MVP Staff
“Four of our students have received Be Discovered scholarships, and our groups have earned more than $500 in scholarships for promising routines, which we are happy to put back into scholarships for our individual dancers at our year-end showcase.”
The season has been outstanding, with dancers attending five different festivals this year — in Red Deer, Edmonton, Calgary, Drumheller and Olds — more than in past years, she said.
The group’s year-end showcase was held over this past weekend in Olds at the TransCanada Theatre, where dancers were to perform in four shows, including one that was sold out on Sunday afternoon. Since this is the studio’s 10th anniversary, the group also planned to celebrate on Saturday evening, she said.
Looking ahead, Overguard expressed enthusiasm for an upcoming trip to perform next November in the Holiday Parade in Disneyland as well as a showcase for entertainment for park goers that dancers and families are already preparing for.
From left: Dakota Lafferty, from Sundre; Rylee Rosenberger, from Olds; and Madison Anderson, from Sundre.
The instructor said it is hard to count the number of reasons she most enjoys being involved with the dance group .
“There are so many things that inspire us about working with these dancers. Every day they show up and push themselves to be better. They demonstrate what commitment, consistency and dedication to your craft can achieve. These dancers have so much passion and focus,” she said, adding the instructors are constantly challenged to present the dancers with new concepts, choreography and skills.
“But the best part is being able to help these students achieve their goals and their dreams,” she added.
“To be a part of their story to success is one extremely humbling experience.”
