Turning Pointe dancers celebrate successful season
By Contributor
Turning Pointe dancers have returned home from their fifth and final festival this week. We have had an awesome year competing in Trail, Kimberley, Calgary and Penticton. Our first festival “Motivate” took place in Trail.
Mackenzie Grantham placed 1st overall and Isabella Mitchell placed second overall. Showteam 2/3 hiphop “Recruit” received second overall and Showteam 2/3 hiphop ensemble “The purge” received third overall.
Our teams then travelled to Kimberley Danceworks and came away with six silvers, 46 golds and 40 high golds. “Three little fishies” and “heartbeat drumbeat” were awarded first overall junior duo/trio. First overall junior large group went to “99 red balloons.” Petra Ihns received First overall intermediate solo, “Ayo” first overall intermediate small group, Mackenzie Grantham first overall senior solo and “Pumpin’ blood” first overall senior trio. Turning pointe’s first ever production “Neverland” won the top production award. Wendy Laidlaw won the choreography award for “Can’t touch this” and “the pianist” won the top scoring acro award. Sloan Brown received the junior recognition award and Mackenzie Grantham received the senior recognition award. Isabella Mitchell received the highest mark of the entire competition with her contemporary solo “Escalate.”
This weekend rolled right into Festival of the Arts in Trail, a provincial qualifying competition held at the Charles Bailey Theatre. Ingrid Ihns was chosen as the junior stage competitor and Isabella Mitchell was chosen as the senior stage competitor and senior modern alternate competitor. Cullen Gray was chosen as the senior stage alternate competitor. Petra Ihns, Meigan Croteau and Mackenzie Grantham were selected to attend as observers. Mackenzie Grantham was awarded top senior stage dancer and Petra Ihns was awarded top intermediate stage dancer. Grace Lindsey received the encouragement award. Isabella Mitchell and Lauren Martin were chosen to receive workshop awards and the top group of the festival went to “Waves.” These girls are representing our area in Chilliwack this week and we wish them the best of luck!
Next, we were off to Calgary for Great Canadian Dance Challenge. Castlegar came home with three high silver, 28 gold, 43 high gold and four diamonds. Sloan Brown and Cullen Gray received diamond, a mark of 95 or higher, for their solos and showteam 2/3 hiphop “Recruit” received diamond as well. Showteam 3 jazz group “seven nation army” received a diamond and earned their way into the dance off at the end of the competition. Petra Ihns was chosen to receive a full scholarship to iDANCE convention and Ingrid Ihns received a scholarship for Be Discovered.
Our last and final festival was Shine in Penticton. Meigan Croteau placed fifth overall for her acro solo “tango.” Mackenzie Grantham placed fourth overall for her acro solo “Fever.” Bella Simon and Lauren Martin placed 5th overall for their acro duo “Cuban Pete.” Dancers from showteam 3 placed fourth overall for their lyrical ensemble “Bulletproof.” “The pianist” place 4th overall in the large group category and “seven nation army” placed first overall. Showteam 2/3 hiphop “Recruit” placed first overall for their extra-large group. Isabella Mitchell received the Next Level Award and Mackenzie Grantham was awarded as a Top 10 Dancer.
As our season comes to an end, we would like to congratulate all of the dancers for doing an amazing job representing our community. We would also like to congratulate our graduating dancers Mackenzie Grantham, Maya Kennedy and Isabella Mitchell. Your dedication and commitment have been exceptional and we wish you the best in the future! Turning Pointe will be performing a final recital titled “New Beginnings”on Friday, May 31st and Saturday June 1st at the Brilliant Cultural Centre. The shows begin at 6 p.m. and tickets are available at the door. We hope to see you all there!
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