Two local dancers have been accepted into the prestigious Joffrey Ballet School Summer Program.
Katie McKamey and Georgia Malamas, both 14, dance out of the Laszlo Tamasik Dance Academy in Powell River and will spend two weeks this summer training with some of the top dance instructors in the industry.
“The Joffrey Ballet School is a very well known school in [New York] and they do have little satellite schools throughout the United States as well; these girls tried out for their summer program virtually,” said dance academy owner/instructor Paige Anderson. “We submitted all their information and they both got accepted, which was insane; it was a really pleasant surprise.
Anderson said she put the two dancers up for the program because she felt they were good enough, but added that “you never know with these things.”
“You get turned down a lot with these types of programs,” she added. “It doesn’t mean you’re a bad dancer, it’s just what they are looking for.”
The girls spend 10 to 15 hours per week practicing and have been competing and taking part in provincial festivals for the past three years. Both said dance has become a way of life.
“To me dance is everything; it makes me feel better when I am sad, it helps me express myself when I don’t know how to say it in words, it motivates me when I don’t feel like I have energy, and it always makes me happy,” said McKamey. “When I am dancing I don’t feel judged or anxious, I feel free and peaceful. If I could, I would dance all day, every day, and that would still not be enough.”
Malamas echoed McKamey’s sentiments, adding that dance is her everyday life, and she lives and breathes it.
“It’s what I like to call my personal remedy; it brings me so much light and joy that I feel I could dance forever,” said Malamas. “Dance has given me so many great friends that I will probably know for the rest of my life and I have made so many incredible memories that I get to keep and cherish.
“In dance, so far, I have worked with many talented individuals who have inspired me to be a better dancer and each and everyone of them have touched a special place in my heart.”
Anderson said the Joffrey Ballet likes dancers to show that they are well-rounded and possess passion and performance quality. She feels both students have that and it’s why she felt it would be a good opportunity for them.
Usually the dancers would have travelled to the school, however, with COVID-19, they will be doing everything virtually at the local academy. It will be a two-week program through Zoom from August 16 to 27 for six hours a day.
“They are going to have amazing instructors,” said Anderson. “I might have to go in the background and be there because I want to be a part of it, too,” she added jokingly.
The girls were accepted into the contemporary program, however, they also have the opportunity to do other genres including ballet and jazz.
Malamas loves lyrical, which is a mix of jazz and ballet, because she said it is beautiful and graceful. McKamey’s favourites are lyrical and contemporary because she feels they are very expressive and show a lot of emotion.
“They really connect the music to me,” said McKamey.
Proud performers
McKamey and Malamas said they were incredibly shocked and excited to be chosen for the program and feel very proud of their accomplishment. Both performers plan to be dancing well into the future and have big plans.
McKamey hopes to attend university for dance and has aspirations of becoming a professional dancer, singer, choreographer and perhaps actor. Her ultimate goal is to dance for Jennifer Lopez and do choreography for famous singers.
Malamas has dreams of dancing professionally with a company/academy or signing a professional contract with some dance icons. She also has a dream of one day opening up her own dance academy.
A few months ago, McKamey and Malamas each landed main feature roles in the Sunshine Coast production of The Nutcracker. The show is being put on by three Sunshine Coast dance academies and will be performed in Gibsons in December. Anderson will teach the girls the choreography here so they will only have to travel down to Gibsons every other weekend, starting at the end of August.
