CKSS dance team stacks up well against tough competition

The Chatham-Kent secondary school competitive dance team decided to take it to the next level this year and stood up well against some stiff competition.

Article content

The 10-member team competed against private dance studios from across Southwestern Ontario in two professional competitions at the Capitol Theater in Chatham in April.

The dancers performed five pieces in three different styles: contemporary, jazz, and hip hop, all of which were student-choreographed while supported by coaches Melanie Rich and Carly Erina.

At the first competition, the team’s contemporary dance, Silver Springs, choreographed by Grade 12 student Victoria Stratton, earned the tower award for building momentum throughout the dance, Rich said.

The small group jazz piece choreographed by co-captains Ellen Blain and Mya Nixon won the director’s choice award, which was the competition owner’s favorite dance of the three-hour session, based on backstage etiquette, teamwork, and onstage performance.

Article content

All five dances at the Dance Rage competition earned the team titanium awards with scores ranging from 90 to 94.

The team continued its success at its second competition, the audience dance rivalry, including winning first place for jazz quad Runaway Baby, choreographed by Blain Nixon. The team also took first place for duets/trios for jazz duet Alejandro, choreographed and performed by Grade 10 students Scarlett Van Goethem and Sienna Henry.

The team’s small group contemporary, choreographed by Stratton not only earned a first place for small groups, but Stratton also won a best choreography of session award, chosen above several professional choreographers from private studios, Rich said.

Blain,18, said, “I thought it was more challenging to go against other studios.”

Article content

She added the CKSS team doesn’t have nearly the amount of rehearsal time as private studios.

The Grade 12 student, who teaches dance outside of school, said there is also a challenge to doing the choreography.

“You have to make sure you’re choreographing to your students’ abilities,” she said. “If it doesn’t look good on them then sometimes you just have to scratch it and restart.”

Nixon, 16, said the April competitions were the first for a few members of the team.

“It was a really great opportunity for everyone,” she said.

Nixon believes the competitions brought the team together.

“I felt like the team grew to be like a family over the last semester, so I was a good environment to be in.”

The Grade 11 student is excited about returning next year to be dance captain.

“I have a lot of ideas and things that I want to happen next year,” she said.

Rich said CKSS offers dance classes at the school for students in grades nine to 12 as a way to get on the competitive team.

She said the classes “can really provide students with the foundation to not only demonstrate their technique, but also learn how to be creative and how to put new movements together in unique ways.”

[email protected]

Article content