Strathmore dancer heads to nationals

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

Members of the community are throwing their support behind Strathmore’s 15-year-old Zack Proudfoot, who secured himself a spot in the Candance 2016 30th anniversary national finals where he will compete against hundreds of other dancers from across North America and among other routines perform his award-winning musical theatre solo.
Proudfoot began dancing late in the game, at age seven, after squirming in his seat watching his younger sister have fun on stage. Following in his older brother’s footsteps – who also danced – the up-and-comer trains 16 hours a week, perfecting contemporary, tap, ballet, hiphop, jazz, and musical theatre techniques among his many other dance classes. Then just over two weeks ago, Proudfoot found himself the runner-up at an elite Candance competition in Red Deer on May 22, when he received a high score of over 95 out of 100, and awarding him a spot at the national competition in Orlando, Fla. in early July – an honour no one in his family has received and which comes attached with a $5,000 price-tag the family and community is now fundraising for.
“My first reaction was shock, then the first thing I said when I got back to my group of friends was, ‘my mom is probably crying in the audience right now; I wasn’t wrong,” said Proudfoot.
“I’m going to see incredibly amazing dancers that will give me inspiration to shoot for that level of skill. I’m 100 per cent going to work as hard as I can to make sure that I’m ready to go to that competition.”
Several thousand dancers across North America were selected to compete in the nationals, where dancers are exposed to workshops and routines mirroring the style of So You Think You Can Dance.
While the family expects Proudfoot to compete against roughly 200 athletes in his age group – he is competing in Mr. Teen – the Strathmore High School student will be able to perform a hip hop routine, and his musical theatre routine, for which he received numerous recognitions, including most entertaining, high score, outstanding musical theatre solo, and subsequently the spot at nationals.
“He was a slow starter, he was a late bloomer, but he just hit a peak and I don’t even think he’s close to his ceiling,” said Christine Forner, Proudfoot’s mother.
“It’s the top of the top, the best of the best that are going and it’s very hard to get into. He’s done really well in musical theatre in the last three years, which gave him so much more confidence.”
As the family is now actively fundraising and seeking sponsorships to cover travel, accommodation, and competition fees cost, Expressions The Dance Company, has offered extra instruction and studio time, while Catch a Rising Star Dance Festival has also sponsored the young athlete. Members of the local dance studio have also started to financially support Proudfoot and some mothers are helping Forner plan a fundraising paint night event. So far the family has raised just over $600.
For more information or to donate contact Christine Forner at 403-899-8907. The Candance 2016 30th anniversary national finals will take place from June 29 to July 4.