Turtleford Dance Studio will see 30 of its students head off to a world dance competition in July. (Turtleford Dance Studio/Facebook)

By Angela Brown

"Dream come true"

‘A dream come true’: Turtleford Dance Studio heading to international competition

May 25, 2023 | 5:53 PM

It’s the moment many young dancers dream about – to show their talents on the world stage.

The Turtleford Dance Studio was recently selected to participate in the Dance World Cup from July 1 to 6 in Whistler, B.C.

“There will be people from all over the world – coming from Australia, China, Guam, all over the place,” Turtleford Dance Studio President and Director Kait Finlay said. “I’m very excited; a little overwhelmed. It will be a dream come true for so many.”

Finlay said the Dance Studio first attended a competition in Saskatoon earlier this month called “5, 6, 7,8 Showtime.”

Roughly 30 of the studio’s dancers were then invited to participate in the world competition event.

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“The reason we have such a large group going is because our production dance was selected to go,” Finlay said. “Others had specific marks, and were just in a stand-out dance and were selected to go.”

The Turtleford Dance Studio is a non-profit organization made up of students, ages six to 18, from Turtleford, Edam, St. Walburg, Glaslyn, Paradise Hill and the surrounding areas.

Finlay and the dance studio’s teacher, Shay Macnab, will attend the world competition with the students, chaperoning the dancers selected to take part.

Finlay said it will be a great opportunity for local students to “learn from other teachers from all over the world.”

“They will receive a custom-made suit, get to do some Whistler [area] activities, and at the very end at the closing ceremonies – at the end of the week they will get to dance on stage with everybody who is at the [competition],” she said. “So, it’s going to be pretty cool, pretty remarkable and memorable.”

The Turtleford Dance Studio youth selected to attend the event are practising every week to get ready.

Finlay said they will also focus on fundraising to help with costs for the students to take part in the international competition, including accommodations for the students.

“Some families are driving and using [the time away] as a family vacation, but others are flying,” she said.

A fundraiser is planned on June 21 and the dance studio will run a concessions booth at the Mervin Flyers baseball team’s game coming up when they will play Glaslyn’s team.

As well, one of the dancers’ dads promised to cut his long hair in a challenge if enough money is raised.

A number of sponsors have also stepped up to help with the costs.

“We’re preparing as much as we can in a very short amount of time. But most of us will fly out on June 30th,” Finlay said. “It’s only a month away, so we have lots to do.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow