The Howe Sound Dance Academy's (HSDA) season is a wrap and this year's dancers are showing the enthusiasm and dedication of real stars, according to director Shalimar Blanchard.
"I am thrilled at the enthusiasm for dance this year," said Blanchard. "These students are interested in taking more that just one dance discipline. As young as nine, some students are taking ballet, jazz and hip hop."
The season wrapped up with an epic performance of Snow White that included two casts performing six shows of ballet, jazz and hip hop, almost all of which were sold out.
The jazz and ballet dancers also attracted the admiration of the Royal Academy of Dance and the International Dance Teaches Jazz exam judges who passed every single student, with the vast majority achieving honour grades. And 10 students also participated in the professional Royal Academy of Dance Vocational exams. This year's students also found time to enter Abbotsford's Dance Power competition, and 5678 in Whistler."I may be biased in my opinion, but I think there are many bright stars coming out of HSDA," said Blanchard.
HSDA is a non-profit society for the benefit of the students and families of HSDA. This year their fundraising events have included the first HSDA calendar, Christmas Purdy's chocolate fundraiser and a raffle. They also helped arrange car washes and a bottle drive in support of students attending the Triple Threat Dance and Groove Street dance convention and several dance competitions. The academy has been attracting more and more students each year and new this season is a second studio that will soon be running to full capacity.
And the end of the season doesn't mean those studios will remain empty. The HSDA will be holding summer conditioning classes starting August 15 and Summer School starting August 22. Details for this are on the academy website www.howesounddance.com.
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