Peninsula dancers Gabrielle Gladych, Lauren Cherrie and Marissa Hamilton represent Canada at the World Championships next month.
The PNR caught up with Grade 9 Stelly’s Secondary students Gladych and Cherrie who are both excited for the opportunity to go to Germany to live out their dreams.
“We’re really excited and it’s a bit nerve-wracking but I think we’re ready. Our team is really great,” said Gladych.
The International Dance Organization’s World Dance Championships hosted by Germany will take place from Nov. 21 to 26. The Organization has over 250,000 member dancers from six continents.
The girls heard about the audition at their home studio, Allegro Performing Arts Centre and automatically thought it would be a great first audition to go to.
“We went in thinking that it was just our experience, nothing was going to happen, and then a few weeks later we got a congratulations email,” said Gladych. “It was overwhelming because we thought that nothing was going to come from it. So we were so happy and ready to start our journey.”
The girls will compete in Jazz Show Dance which is similar to their usual jazz class.
For Gladych and Cherrie, dance entered their life through their family.
“My mom danced when she was younger, so she thought since it’s in my blood that I should also start. This will be my 12th year dancing,” said Gladych.
“I’ve just grown such a huge family with all my peers and all my teachers. It’s just an amazing environment for all of us and that’s what I love to do.”
“Gabby is right, we’re all one big family at our studio so it makes it really fun,” said Cherrie.
Cherrie began in gymnastics, which she said really didn’t do it for her, so her mother suggested she try dancing. Gladych too did gymnastics with Cherrie when they were younger.
“We’ve all become really close,” said Cherrie.
The girls’ training regimine is anything but easy. They dance six days a week for four to five hours a day. They’re also fundraising to travel to Germany.
One of the fundraises they’ll host is a ‘spin and win’ event at Save on Foods in Sidney give them money and spin the wheel for their chance to win prizes from the store. They are also doing many other fundraising events throughout the next month and a bit before they head off.
Visit teamcanadadance.com for more information on Team Canada Dance.