Salt Spring Island dancers are celebrating an outstanding competition season after strong results at two major Vancouver Island dance competitions this spring.
The dancers, who train together under instructor Jen Soo — owner of Studio North Dance Academy and Stage West School of Performing Arts — proudly represented Salt Spring Island among studios from across Vancouver Island and the mainland. Dancers featured in the group performances include Athena Dragland, Gia Van Riel, Isla Marcu-Alaire, Isla Ashall, Ivy Hennessey, Eva Ilinykh and Harlow Kazakoff.
Competing at VersaStyle Dance Competition at the Tidemark Theatre in Campbell River in mid-April and the April 28 to May 3 Euphoria Dance Competition at the Port Theatre in Nanaimo, the group earned numerous overall placements, special awards and adjudicator recognition.
Dragland achieved multiple top honours for her ballet solo Blue Bird, including First Overall Soloist placements, Top Score Grand Overall, an Emerald Standing award and an Adjudicator’s Choice Award. Her solo was also invited to participate in the Emerald Cup as a special guest performance.
Van Riel received overall solo placements for her ballet solo By Night at both competitions and also earned an Adjudicator’s Choice Award for outstanding performance.
The lyrical group Not About Angels, featuring the full Salt Spring Island team, earned top overall group placements at both events, including First Place Top Scoring Group at Euphoria with an Emerald Standing award. The piece was also invited to perform in the Emerald Cup as a special guest performance.
The jazz group Boogie Shoes also earned a top overall group placement at VersaStyle.
“The dancers worked hard this season and had a really strong competition run,” said Soo. “It was great to see them perform with confidence and represent Salt Spring Island so well.”
The dancers will next perform at the Community Dance Showcase at ArtSpring on June 5, where audiences will have the opportunity to see several of the award-winning routines performed live.