For a somewhat small region, qathet has plenty of clubs and creative programs on offer for all ages.
Laszlo Tamasik Dance Academy is now in its 10th dance season since revitalization.
A decade ago, ballet teacher Laszlo Tamasik decided to take a step back from his company and former student Paige Anderson took over as owner and artistic director. The academy has since expanded its dance repertoire to include jazz, acro-dance, hip-hop, contemporary, ballet and musical theatre, for both non-competitive dancers and pre-professional competitive dancers.
Two rising stars at the academy are Mia Curtis and Katie McKamey. They will be competing with Team Canada this coming fall: Curtis will dance in the hip-hop category in Macedonia and McKamey will dance in the acrobatic dance (Acro Dance) category in Poland.
Anderson said another dancer from the academy named Hailey Essex also made it onto Team Canada for hip-hop in the teen category but is unable to participate.
Another member of the academy recently received an accolade.
"Georgia Malamas was in the top 10 dancers of the Shine Dance Festival in April," said Anderson. "All the top 10 dancers from the Shine competitions were invited to a convention in Vancouver that took place at the end of June and one dancer from the convention was awarded dancer of the year, and Georgia was this dancer."
In August the dance academy will host a summer dance intensive with two guest teachers, one from Vancouver and one from Toronto. Later this year, more than a dozen members are headed south, to perform at a famous resort.
"A team of 16 dancers will be dancing in the Disneyland parade in October," added Anderson.
She said she is also looking forward to the new dance season and that registration is now open for 2024/2025.
According to the Laszlo Tamasik Dance Academy website, everything is available at every level, from recreational to competitive.
“The competitive program is for those who are taking their dance more seriously and want to take multiple classes a week," said Anderson. “Anyone can take a recreational class, whatever their age or level; it’s fun, great exercise and dancers learn a performing art.”
For more information, go to laszlodanceacademy.com. To watch LTDA dancers performing a piece titled, Dancing in Nature, search for Dancing In Nature on the academy’s Youtube channel.
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