Expressions hands out year-end awards

By Adelle Ellis, Times Reporter

Three members of the Strathmore BWith their regular season wrapped up following their year-end recital on June 2, young dancers from Expressions The Dance Gallery took a chance to look back at their past year and to honour two dedicated dancers.
During their 36th recital, Dancing Through the Seasons, held at Glenmore Christian Academy on June 2, each class got to perform one dance for their peers, family and friends, to showcase what they have learned and worked on all year.
“We believe it is important to celebrate the dancers’ accomplishments and show off all of the hard work they put in during the season,” said Michelle Murdoch, administration manager at Expressions. “Parents and families love being able to see the progress made each year of their own dancers, and I am sure they love to see the growth and progress of other dancers as they have watched them grow up in the studio,” she said.
Every season, every dancer has the opportunity to work and train hard for a shot at winning dancer of the year. Each teacher gets to submit the names of six dancers who are hardworking, have a good attitude, have a good attendance record and set a good example to peers. Then each dancer is put into a points system to systemize the one winner and the five runner ups. Out of 175 dancers, 25 young dancers had their names submitted; there were two ties resulting in eight awards for dancer of the year.
Faith Sexton, who is 14 years old and has been dancing for nine years, came out on top to win dancer of the year.
“You name it and I probably dance it. I do ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, musical theatre, song and dance, hip hop, aerial, contemporary, lyrical, acrobatics, highland and hand balancing,” said Sexton.
In the past she has won awards for some of her competition dances and a couple small scholarships, but nothing as big as dancer of the year.
“I have been dancing for a long time and I put a lot of effort and hard work into each of my classes, so it feels good to have that work and dedication recognized,” said Sexton. “(This award) means that all my hard work has paid off and it’s a big step forward into my dream career of being a dancer on Broadway and a dance teacher. It’s a good feeling knowing that all the work I put in is being noticed.”
The second large award handed out at the year-end recital was the Anne A Lawrence Memorial award. This award goes to a dancer who shows the values of determination, overcoming adversity, perseverance, self-discipline and working to their full ability.
This year’s winner is Katelyn Sheppard, 20, who has been dancing hip hop, tap, acrobatics and musical theatre for the past four years. She said winning the award was worth all the hard work, and that her goal for next year is to perform a solo in a competition.
The annual aerial showcase The Elements was held on June 20 at the Strathmore High School and the exam awards for acrobatics were handed out.