Dance Extreme dancers have been busy dancing their summer away at Ballet schools across Canada. Six dancers from the studio were all accepted to participate in Ballet Summer Programs offered by some of the most prestigious ballet schools nationwide.
Kanya Hern, Ewan Hartman and Makenzie Williams spent a month at The National Ballet of Canada, studying with teachers from around the world in ballet, contemporary and pointe. Paige Lavoie traveled west to attend the Royal Winnipeg School of Ballet for the month of July. Jacqueline attended the Quite Ballet School summer program, and Samantha Lake is spending the month of August at Ballet Jorgen’s Summer Program in Toronto.
Said Hartman, 12, of his experience: “Having had the opportunity to attend Canada’s National Ballet School summer program for the second time has benefited me by making me a stronger, and more knowledgeable and mature dancer. It’s one of the most memorable experiences a dancer can have, as you meet people from all over the world (both teachers and students). When you learn from teachers from around the world, you get to learn and experience new ways to perform and improve your technique.”
Twelve-year-old Makenzie Williams also attended the National Ballet of Canada this past July with Hartman and Hern. She shared with us how the National School of ballet has helped her look at dance in a different way: “Even though ballet is a very technical form and might get you a job, connecting to the audience by dancing with your heart will take you more places, by far!”
Our dancers who venture off to immerse themselves in intensives return to work even harder in their studio work. They gain so much from working with other teachers and learn how to take corrections from their teachers, how to advance their performance skills, and how to challenge themselves when taking class at any level.
Fifteen-year-old Samantha Lake, who is attending Ballet Jorgen’s Summer Intensive, said that what she enjoys at Ballet Jorgen is “the amazing teachers … they dance to live music.” (There is always a pianist, and a person playing the guitar or drums) for each discipline (yoga, Pilates, jazz, modern, hip hop, ballet and pointe). At the end of the day, they finish with a Repertoire, which Lake enjoys. “The days go by really fast, and each evening the chaperones take the girls out (sister-hood).”
Thirteen-year-old Paige Lavoie grande jete’d across the prairies to attend the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her experience has been second to none, and her acceptance to the school’s Professional Program is a testament to her hard work and passion for ballet. Lavoie shares: “When we dance, there is so much we have to think about! But compared to other styles of dance, ballet is very technical, so sometimes we have to take a few steps back and look at the basics and perfect them. The Royal Winnipeg Ballet helped me perfect my skills, and now I’m moving on to the next stage of my journey in ballet, as I’ve been accepted into the Professional Division Program at RWB.”
In addition to these four dedicated dancers, Kanya Hern was accepted to the National School of Ballet, and Jacqueline Seman was accepted to the Quinte School of Ballet and will be attending in the Fall. These experiences outside of the studios provide our dancers with opportunities of a lifetime, giving them a chance to meet other like-minded dancers from around the country and the world, and a place where they can pursue their passion for dance. We are very proud of all of our dancers’ accomplishments, and we encourage others to continue to try new dance programs during the summer months.
Submitted by Richelle Hirlehey for Dance Extreme
