Hundreds of young dancers will take to the stage of the Lester Centre of the Arts on Sunday, competing for more than $55,000 in prizes during the 26th BC Annual Dance Competition.
Taking place on May 3 to 9, the BC Annual Dance Competition (BCADC) will host approximately 300 dance students, the largest number of contestants participating in the event to date.
“We have a record number of dancers and entries this year,” said Jennifer Kloppers, co-president of the Jazz Production Association.
“It’s the first time we’re going to have dance from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. with no breaks.”
About half of the dancers competing in the 2015 BCADC will be from the two Prince Rupert dance studios, with the remaining contestants coming from the Metro Vancouver-area, Terrace, Smithers and Prince George. All partaking will contend for several cash prizes and scholarships.
“We guaranteed that we’d be giving away $50,000 this year, but our latest figures look like we’ll be giving away $58,000,” said Kloppers.
This year there will be changes to the Performer of the Year categories, with the Junior winner earning a $1,000 cash prize and the Senior $2,000. During the 2015 contest, competitors will have to perform a musical interpretation solo.
“They’ll come out on the stage, hear a song and they have to figure out on the spot how to dance to it,” explained Kloppers.
“There are about 50 brave souls who have signed up.”
As per usual, the BC Annual Dance Competition will wrap-up with the Gala performance on Saturday, May 9, with the top prize winners in each category being announced at the show’s conclusion.
“That’s where you can see the best of the best. The top two groups in each category re-compete for the cash prizes,” noted Kloppers.
The BC Annual Dance Competition was founded by Teresa Mackereth, starting as a three-day festival with $11,000 in prizes. Today, the Jazz Production Association, a non-profit organization comprised of 14 board members, works year-round to prepare for the annual event. The BCADC is run entirely by volunteers and through donations.
“(The association is) a group of people who are truly committed to the arts in Prince Rupert,” said Kloppers, adding their efforts are extremely well-received by the community.
“We get donations from individuals and businesses year after year. It takes about 1,000 volunteer hours during the week of the competition and the 14 board members can’t do that alone. All those volunteer hours are picked up by community members and parents of dancers,” she said, adding many parents of out-of-town dancers also routinely assist with volunteering.
Tickets for Saturday’s Gala can be purchased at Cook’s Jewellers and the Lester Centre Box office. The performance will start at 7 p.m.
For a full schedule, see Pages 19-20.