From ballet to hip hop, the walls of Don Ross echoed with the thunder of synchronized feet as the Battlefords Dance Festival Association held its 31st annual dance festival from April 25 to 27.
Audiences were treated to a variety of performances from dancers of six schools: Annette's School of Dance and Dance Connection, based in North Battleford, La Danse, Studio One and Saskatchewan Express out of Saskatoon and the Unity School of Dance.
The performances were judged by three adjudicators: Josh Beamish, Tara Crouse, and Angela-Rae Murdoch.
BDFA vice president Shelley Miller said the many hours of organizing and the efforts of the volunteers in making the festival a reality are worthwhile.
"The kids just have lots of fun," said Miller. "They look forward to it every year."
Miller said $9,100 was given out in scholarships to the competing dancers, made possible through the contributions of businesses and organizations.
"We couldn't do it without the assistance of local companies," said Miller.
Local dancers from both Annette's School of Dance and the Dance Connection won a number of these awards.
Dance Connection
Katrina MacKinnon won $75 for highest mark in character ballet, and a Dance Sask Inc. scholarship which includes the Youth Dance Ambassador award and complimentary membership.
Brooklyn Lees won $50 for promising contestant in character ballet.
Madison Jack won $75 for highest mark in demi-character ballet.
Matéa Steinborn won $50 for promising contestant in demi-character ballet.
Daryl Iverson won $75 for highest mark in classical pointe ballet, and a Dance Jam Convention scholarship, sponsored by CDTA, which includes full tuition to a Dance Jam workshop, senior category.
Brynn Cubbon won $50 for promising contestant in lyrical.
Jade Menssa took home $37.50 in a tie for contestant with highest mark in jazz, 9 to 10 years.
Kimberly Milnthorp took home $37.50 in a tie for contestant with highest mark in jazz, 11 to 12 years.
Bailey Delainey won $75 for having the highest mark in jazz, 15 to 16 years, and a Dance Jam Convention scholarship, sponsored by CDTA, which includes full tuition to an Dance Jam workshop, intermediate category.
Chloe Winterhalt won $50 for promising contestant in jazz.
Dante Bacchetto won a Dance Connection scholarship which includes tuition to Dance Connection Summer School 2011.
Daryl Iverson and Ashlyn Schwab took home $100 for the duo with the highest mark in lyrical.
Ashlyn Schwab and Bailey Delainey won $100 for the duo with the highest mark in jazz.
Tegan Kozuska and ShaeLynne Zyznomirski brought home $100 for duo with highest mark in hip hop.
Brynn Cubbon, Bailey Delainey, Daryl Iverson, Tarryn Jamieson, Cassandra Knisely, Taylor Landry, Stephanie Polowick and Ashlyn Schwab received the $200 award for small group with the highest mark in ballet for their performance, Lagunen Waltz.
For their performance of Primavera, Bailee George, Shaelyn Harper, Madison Jack, Jordache LaRose, Katrina MacKinnon, Amy Miller, Aynsley Platten, Taneasha Pooyak, Courtney Simon and Matea Steinborn won $300 for large or line group with highest mark in ballet.
Dante Bacchetto, Haley Beatch, Rebecca Boser, Teagan Bouvier, Ashley Brown, Rianna Crespo, Madison Flath, Sierra Grill, Aftan Hagen, Jade Menssa, Tylor Muldoon, Tayllor Priddle, Alaska Starycki, Jennifer Tran, Naomi Wall, Chloe Winterhalt, Courtney Wouters, Nadine Woytowich and Kaitlyn Yockey won $200 for promising large/line ballet group.
For their musical theatre performance, Taste of Chicago, $300 was awarded to Pilar Bernal, Brynn Cubbon, Bailey Delainey, Shaelyn Harper, Daryl Iverson, Madison Jack, Tarryn Jamieson, Cassandra Knisely, Destiny Loewen, Katrina MacKinnon, Andie Northcott, Matea Steinborn, Seanne Stillar and Jean Van der Merwe.
Katie Bristow, Brynn Cubbon, Bailey Delainey, Daryl Iverson, Tarryn Jamieson, Cassandra Knisely, Taylor Landry, Stephanie Polowick and Ashlyn Schwab won $200 for small group with the highest mark in lyrical for their performance, Ave Maria.
For their performance, Reflections, Emilia Bacchetto, Jessa Chasse-Sternig, Rebecca Davies, Allie Degenstein, Sarah Hadley, Tegan Kozuska, BrookLynn Lees, Kimberly Milnthorp, Jordyn Nachtengaele, Natalya Shevchuk, Kiana Steinborn, Megan Yockey and ShaeLynne Zyznomirski won $300 for large/line group with the highest mark in lyrical.
Bailey Delainey, Cassandra Knisely, Taylor Landry and Ashlyn Schwab won $200 for group with highest mark in modern with their performance, Breathing.
Bailey Delainey, Cassandra Knisely and Ashlyn Schwab won $120 for their performance of Nasty Boyz, which netted them the highest trio mark in jazz.
Alyssa Boser, Teagan Bouvier, Jessica Geiger, Tegan Kozuska, Kimberly Milnthorp, Jordyn Muldoon, Kiana Steinborn, Chloe Winterhalt, Megan Yockey and ShaeLynne Zyznomirski won $200 for promising large/line tap group with their performance, Ch'Boogie.
Katie Bristow, Brynn Cubbon, Bailey Delainey, Daryl Iverson, Cassandra Knisely, Taylor Landry, Stephanie Polowick and Ashlyn Schwab won $150 for promising small tap group with their performance, Everybody.
Two Dance Connection teachers won two out of the three Adjudicator's Choice Awards for excellence in choreography: Margaret Stephen and Virginia Ross Winterhalt.
Annette's School of Dance
Cayla Ellis won $75 for highest mark in lyrical, $75 for contestant with highest mark in open solo, $75 for the contestant in choreography with the highest mark and the Groove Street Productions scholarship, which includes tuition for a Groove Street Dance or Street Groove Convention.
Taylor Kozlowski won $50 for promising contestant in jazz.
Jessie Abbott, Paisley Armstrong, Nicole Barber, Nacia Borgeson, Katherine Boucher, Madison Detillieux, Cayla Ellis, Kierra Godlien, Ashley Greenwald, Meagen Houle, Chantal Houle, Taylor Kozlowski, Danika McConnell, Madison Reimer, Kim Ring, Danielle Sled, Brooklyn Tollefson and Jadyn Wychopen won $200 for promising large/line jazz group for their performance, Meet Me At The Roxy.
For their performance, Shrek's Party, $300 was awarded to Jessie Abbott, Paisley Armstrong, Nicole Barber, Nacia Borgeson, Katherine Boucher, Madison Detillieux, Cayla Ellis, Kierra Godlien, Ashley Greenwald, Meagen Houle, Chantal Houle, Taylor Kozlowski, Danika McConnell, Kim Ring, Brooklyn Tollefson and Jadyn Wychopen for group with highest mark in open.
