A local group of dancers was recently named Dance Champions of the Year at a competition in Drumheller.
On Sunday, June 24, the 10 performers from Move Yourself Dance, which has studios in Olds and Sundre as well as a new location in Trochu, were recognized for their choreographed routine at the Catch A Rising Star Dance Championships competition, said Heidi Overguard, who co-owns and instructs with Christine Rosenberger.
They had previously competed in recent months at other events that earned the group an invitation to the final dance-off. Between 15 and 20 studios from across Alberta and Saskatchewan were offered the opportunity to compete in the invitation-only championship event, she said.
“This is the second year in a row that students from Move Yourself Dance have won this exciting award, which is an amazing accomplishment for this small rural studio.”
Last year, some local hip-hop performers brought home the championship title, while this year’s dancers won the award with a contemporary piece called Youth that was choreographed by Elizabeth Martin and Jennifer Wendt, said Overguard.
They started learning the steps in January and along the way “worked super hard” putting in plenty of additional practices including on Saturdays and Sundays, she said.
“They did awesome — it was exciting to see them rewarded for all of the extra effort they put in.”
Their routine won a choreography award and also received excellent marks during the festival season, and has now brought home the grand Dance Champion of the Year trophy along with $600 in awards as well as a $500 costume purchase from a Calgary-based retailer, she said.
Including herself and Rosenberger, Overguard said there are a dozen instructors who help hone the students’ skills.
“I love working with the dancers,” she said.
“They teach us something every day, in that they push themselves. They have this intense passion for dance — it’s contagious,” she said, adding seeing them grow, improve and succeed is its own reward.
“It brings joy to your life,” she said, adding that getting to be a part of their journey is an honour.
Rosenberger feels the same way, and was excited and pumped up to be able to attend the event in Drumheller, said Overguard, who was busy that weekend with the annual Sundre parade.
Although the championship in Drumheller essentially marks the end of the rural dance festival season as well as the year for Move Yourself Dance, she said the studio is planning to host its annual summer camp in Sundre later this month in conjunction with choreographers and instructors Tana Graham, who was a finalist on So You Think You Can Dance Canada Season 2, and Nico Gelderblom.
Visit www.moveyourselfdance.com or email [email protected] for more information.
