HUMBOLDT — A-List Dance and Acrobatics wrapped up a season that included winning some national awards with a recital featuring all of the studio’s students.
“Tonight was so fun. I absolutely had a blast,” said Shaya Nordick, a senior dancer. “With how hectic the costume changes were to how much fun I had during the dances, it’s been such a good year this year and I couldn’t ask for a better dance group.”
Nordick was one of the studio’s students to compete at the Canadian National Dance Championships held in Winnipeg, where she received first place for her hip-hop solo and an award of distinction for hip-hop.
“My favourite type of dance would definitely have to be hip-hop,” she said. “That’s definitely my strong suit and that’s the very first one that I started out with.”
As for the recital, held May 4 and 5, her favourite dance was Demons, which portrayed a girl weighed down by her depression. Nordick wore white and was tied down to four other dancers wearing black. As the dance continued, the dancers in black would drag Nordick away from places.
“Somebody very close to me has been struggling with what the person was talking about, so that’s very near and dear to my heart,” she said.
Bronwyn Lueke, also a senior dancer, placed second at the nationals for her jazz solo. Her favorite genre of dance depends on the year.
“It really depends on the choreography. Some years I like ballet better. Some years, I like jazz better. But this year, I definitely liked my ballet dance, which was Arabia.”
Lueke is also a fan of musical theatre, as she gets to portray different characters in different costumes.
Overall, Lueke thought the recital went well.
“Recital is pretty stressful. People make mistakes on stage that they’ve never made before because you’re just in that level of stress.”
A-List also got awards of distinction at the nationals for dances called Imagine and All Star.
Isabelle Ebert, another senior dancer, has been dancing since she was three.
“I would have to say my favourite would have to be my tap set with Karen [Kaip], which is Paradise, because it’s really fun, nice fast tap and it’s a really nice song,” she said. “Tap is probably my favourite because I’ve been doing that one ever since I was five years old. It’s always been my favourite to do just to make so much fun with my tap shoes and everything.”
Ebert said dance is a useful sport to get into.
“There’s just so much that like helps you I guess in your everyday life as you get older, see who helps get flexible,” she said. “You get some competitive skills and get to make all sorts of new friends. It’s really just awesome for me.”
Nordick, who’s been dancing for three years, said she agreed.
“Dance is such a fun sport. You meet so many friends with it. And if you’re looking to put your child into it, definitely go for it because your child will make the best of friends ever.”
