An unprecedented six Project Dance competitive dancers have been chosen as provincial representatives or alternates for the prestigious Performing Arts BC Provincial Dance Festival.
This year’s event will be held May 26-31 in Powell River and will include 12 year old Austyn Lamont.
Lamont was named a junior stage rep at the Chilliwack Lions Music and Dance Festival.
Twelve year old Lily Maarhuis earned the same recognition at the Surrey Dance Festival and 17 year old Emily Fox earned senior stage rep status at the same event.
Thirteen year old Hannah Bateman was named an intermediate stage rep at the PacWest Dance Festival.
Twelve year olds Kelly Blancas and Micaela Nyland are both junior stage rep alternates.
The stage division includes the jazz, lyrical, tap and stage disciplines.
“It is an honour to have one provincial rep named, but to have six of them from one studio is amazing,” said Project Dance owner/director Amanda Quinton. “It’s a credit to all of these hard-working dance students and their teachers, and their families.”
“They work so hard to continue to improve their skills and they have an amazing work ethic,” she added. “Balancing their training schedules with the demands of schoolwork and competitions is tough, but they always show up ready to work hard.”
Project Dance athletes have enjoyed a hugely successful season, amassing the studio’s most-ever high-score trophies, awards and scholarships.
Provincial reps return home just in time to perform in the company show, ‘Real Love’ on May 31.
Project Dance’s mini, recreational and first-level competition year-end shows take place June 20-21 at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre.