It was a trip to remember.
Innisfail dancer Jade Grimes recently returned from New York City with memories and moments to last a lifetime.
The soon to be 18-year-old Grimes was in New York City as part of an intensive workshop that ran from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. She spent a total of 13 days there, from Dec. 25 to Jan. 6.
Last May, Grimes was one of 800 participants to compete in the Can Dance competition at Red Deer College, and was awarded a special $1,000 New York City: Be Discovered scholarship that included a professional photo shoot, hotel accommodations, meals, transportation in the city, chaperones and return airfare.
“It was absolutely incredible. When we got there we did a tour of Radio City Music Hall,” said Grimes. “There was a viewing room while a live show was going on so we could see the show.”
Following the show, a class of about 30 participants from various studios across North America had the opportunity to work with the Radio City Rockettes for about two hours, noted Grimes.
“We got to do some tap numbers, jazz numbers, and there was a whole section focused just on kicks,” said Grimes, adding the Rockettes are known as the precision dancers.
The Grade 12 student at Red Deer's École Secondaire Notre Dame High School enjoyed a variety of workshops through the Be Discovered scholarship and with the Rockettes.
“I mostly liked their precision,” she said. “Instead of being on count seven or eight, you can count to seven and eight and there'll be an arm or a head (movement) on the ‘and' counts,” added Grimes. “That's something you can really focus on to better the group.
“They take your breath away. You're so thirsty to see them again,” she added.
Other highlights of her trip to the Big Apple included Times Square, Central Park, Broadway shows, and a bus tour of the different neighbourhoods and cultural areas in New York City.
In addition to the workshops, she also attended the dance schools at Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Centre.
“Both were incredible classes with amazing teachers,” she said, noting a couple of favourite experiences for her during the trip.
“My first would have to be doing hip hop at Broadway Dance Centre. Central American hip hop is very different than the American style of hip hop,” said Grimes. “We got to do some crumping which I've never done before – it was so much fun to learn something (about hip hop).”
The second was experiencing live Broadway shows in New York City, including Finding Neverland and Matilda.
The intensive workshops and dance classes she participated in often included many long hours of dancing, she noted, adding that in the end all that hard work and experience was worth it.
“I was sore but it was a good sore,” said Grimes. “It was my first trip but not my last. I will be back (to New York) one day.”
Jade Grimes
"They take your breath away. You're so thirsty to see them again."
