Dance Provides More than Just Health Benefits
TERRI EGER
“Six venues, thousands of dancers from all over Canada, top adjudicators, scholarships and prizes!” promotes the Great Canadian Dance Challenge held in 12 different locations across Alberta and British Columbia each year. Among the stops on the competition trail, the challenge will hit Medicine Hat for five days in April.
“There will be about 1,000 dancers coming from 12 large studios including those in Calgary, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Edmonton,” explained Johanna Wilson, general manager of Showtime Dance Promotions which puts on the challenge.
“We bring in adjudicators from Toronto, Los Angeles and Vancouver who do personal adjudications on stage,” she said.
Dancers take part in many different genres of dance at all levels and all ages. Top competitors from the competition move on to compete for cash prizes and scholarship money.
“It’s a really good opportunity for the dancers,” said Wilson. “The event is really all about the kids and there is a great feeling of sportsmanship during the event.”
Held at the Esplanade Theatre in Medicine Hat, Wilson brings in a 20-member team to ensure the event runs smoothly. The business also hires the theatre’s technical crew and local ushers for the event.
Sports tourism is a growing industry with big economic advantages. Along with the aforementioned “thousands of dancers” come countless coaches, parents and fans who will all need a place to stay and food to eat.
“There’s a lot of money spent on hotels and food from parents, grandparents and other family members,” admits Melisa Cowan co-owner of Lime Litez Dance Studio in Medicine Hat. “It does make a difference to the economy.”
The studio is in its eighth year of operation and attends four competitions each season. Lime Litez Dance Studio teaches 250 students in multiple classes including jazz, tap, ballet, acro, musical theatre and lyrical styles. There are six instructors on staff coaching dancers ranging in age from two to 18 years.
Participating in the sport allows athletes the opportunity to stay active and develop their skills.
“There are great health and social benefits for the girls,” said Cowan.
Dance gives the girls a physical outlet outside the school setting where they have the opportunity to meet new people and develop friendships. Spending their time in a constructive manner, setting goals and working hard for success are all added benefits to the sport.
“The girls develop a good group of dance friends whom they can rely on. They are a pretty tight-knit group,” she said.
Genevieve Bourdon is the owner and artistic director of Medicine Hat School of Performing Arts which currently teaches approximately 285 students in ballet, jazz, modern, hip hop, tap, musical theatre, lyrical and pointe classes as well as ballroom dance.
The business employs seven teachers and has five assistant teachers meeting the needs of students ranging
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