.jpg;w=960)
For the last two years, the competitive dance teams from Laszlo Tamasik Dance Academy have trained, practiced and competed virtually, but they have not done the one thing they love the most: dance in front of a live audience. On Saturday, February 26, that changes when they take the stage at Evergreen Theatre for two fundraising shows.
“I don’t even know how to communicate how excited the dancers are about this show,” says Paige Anderson, artistic director and company dance coach for Laszlo Tamasik Dance Academy. “They’re so ready to perform that they’re vibrating. They keep asking me how ticket sales are going, if we think it’s going to sell out, if they can go to the theatre yet. They want to dance in front of an audience with everything in them.”
February of 2020 was the last time the dancers had an audience. That year, all competitions and performances were cancelled due to the pandemic. In 2021, both performances and competitions took place virtually.
“Our competitive teams are very strong,” says Paige. “When they competed virtually at Evolve Dance Competition last year, the combined junior and senior teams tied for dance-down champion with their “Bohemian Rhapsody” contemporary number. They have had so much time to train and perfect their craft these last two years, and they really want to show Powell River what they’re capable of.”
The show is called “At Last,” because the dancers will finally be doing what they’re really passionate about: performing for an audience.
“They like to compete because it’s fun to go away with the team and to be recognized for their skills and hard work, but the majority of them prefer the shows,” says Paige. “The numbers are always a surprise to everyone in the audience, since we never let parents or friends watch the practices, and the dancers are also very determined to keep things a surprise. That makes the shows fun for everyone.”
Proceeds from the two shows will go toward entry fees for two upcoming dance competitions: Vibe Dance Competition in Kelowna April 20 to 24, and Evolve Dance Competition in Burnaby May 11 to 15.
“We have six competitive teams, from our introductory competitive bootcamp team to our senior company team, and competitive dancers from seven to 18 years old,” says Paige. “They will be performing their competition pieces, and some of the teams have between seven and 10 pieces to perform.”
The pieces cover all the different dance disciplines taught at Laszlo Tamasik Dance Academy, so audience members will be treated to performances in ballet, lyrical dance, contemporary dance, jazz, musical theatre, tap and hip hop.
“The pieces performed at the two shows will be the same, though we will be changing the soloists and duets featured at each performance,” says Paige. “We have an afternoon matinee at 1 pm, and an evening performance at 7 pm, both at the Evergreen Theatre on Saturday, February 26. We will follow whatever the COVID-19 protocols mandated by the province are at that time.”
Tickets are $20 each, and can be pre-purchased at the Peak office at 4493F Marine Avenue. At publication time, tickets remained for both shows, however the evening show was selling out fast, according to Paige.
“The dancers’ excitement is contagious,” she adds. “I feel very blessed and thankful, not only for the dancers who have kept their spirits and commitment level so high for the last two years, but also for the rest of the instructors as well. It’s been a very strange time, but everyone is so passionate about dance, and that keeps us all going.”
