Elliot Lake DanceWorks students recently took part in a dance competition scoring, a number of awards.
The dance school and its 150 students had to limit instructions during pandemic restrictions but made their first public performance in three years at a public event in March at a packed Collins Hall.
It was an opportunity for students to sharpen their skills in advance of competitions.
Christine Brunet, owner, operator, and teacher was very impressed with the dancers' progress this year.
“How far they have come from September to being able to grace the stage at competitions has truly been leaps and bounds in technical development and performance skills,” she said. “Many of our dancers were first-time competitors this year.
"Teachers Brooke Patry and Kelsey Patry were such a great support system to our competitive team this year and have been fabulous role models as well, setting the standard very high for what we hope to accomplish over the next years," Brunet added. "We truly are blessed to have such strong role models within our studio.
"Erin Guertin, teacher and choreographer, couldn’t have been more pleased with the top solo performances by Taylor Schell and Evan Tyler.”
Overall Awards:
- Seven and under VooDoo VooDoo first Overall Highest group and Choreography Award (View Dance Comp (VDC) and second overall at the Bedazzled Dance Comp (BDC).
- Seven-year solo Emma Gentile Stupid Cupid - First Overall (BDC).
- 10-year Lyrical Group Head above Water - First overall junior group (VDC)- Special Award Judges Choice Award.
- 10-year Jazz Group Bongo Cha Cha Cha - Second overall Junior Group (BDC).
- 10-year tap Group Welcome to the 60s - Third Overall Junior Group (BDC), Second overall Junior Group (VDC).
- 11-year tap Solo Charlotte Parsons Happy Feet - Second overall junior soloist (BDC) and Judges Choice award, Then first Overall and Most Potential Jr dancer at (VDC) and Invitation to The View Workshop in Toronto in November.
- 13-year lyrical solo Calaea John-Phillip - Judges Choice Award and third overall (BDC) and first overall pre-teen soloist and Judges Choice award (VDC) plus Most Potential Novice dancer award, and Invite to The View Workshop in Toronto in November.
- 15-year tap group Peace Patrol - Judges Choice at (BDC)
- 17-year Jazz group Midnight Man - Judges Choice at (BDC)
- 17-year solo Grace Mair Love Fool - Judges Choice at (BDC)
- 18-year solo Evan Tyler Brandy - Invitation to Dazzling Dance Pageant Finals (Mr. Dance competition) in Collingwood July 3 - 4, 2022, Judges Choice award (VDC)
- 19-year solo Kelsey Patry Came Here for Love - Second overall Sr solo at (BDC), and Invitation to Greece July 23 - July 31
DanceWorks will host its year-end recital at the Collins Hall on June 4 with two performances at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. and again at a gay pride event on June 25, said Brunet.