A total of 60 dancers from Dance Extreme travelled to Boston, Massachusetts from June 27-July 5 to participate in the Dance Masters of America 131st National Dance Convention. During the convention, the dancers took part in daily professional dance masters classes, competed as one of only two Canadian dance companies in the Performing Arts Competition, and, of course, took in the sights and sounds that Boston has to offer.
Dance Extreme finished off the week by being selected to perform in the Grand National Championship amongst 15 other dance numbers from within Dance Masters of America. Those selected were chosen for outstanding performance combined with top scores. Our dancers brought to the stage four numbers in the Grand National Championships; Bathing Beauties (12 & under), choreographed by Miss Richelle Hirlehey, Working Day and Night (12 & under), choreographed by Miss Rebecca Zizek (which was featured in the last issue of SportsXpress), and Let Go and Dystopia (13 & up), choreographed by Miss Rebecca Zizek.
The festivities came to a close on July 4 with the National Convention closing banquet. Both Dystopia and Let Go were selected to compete in the Champion of Champion’s Competition at the banquet where many notable dance artists were honoured with prestigious awards for their work in the dance field. They included: Densil Adams (Artistic Director, Preston Dance Centre), Allison Forrance and Teddy Forrance (Shaping Sound Dance Company), and Larraine Susa (Studio Owner).
Following the awards, Dance Extreme’s senior dancers graced the stage once again and came away with the Top Mark and Title of Grand Champions for their piece Let Go. This lyrical piece, choreographed to Shane Koyczan’s moving spoken-word poem “A Letter to Remind Myself,” left a mark on all audience members. Dance Extreme is proud to represent ourselves at a National Convention of this calibre and to come away with such a prestigious award!
