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P.G. resident named Dancer of the Year |
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Written by CHRISTINE SKOREPA
Citizen staff
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Wednesday, 21 May 2008 |
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PRINCE RUPERTLOS ANGELES
For the first time a Prince George performer has been named Dancer of the Year at the B.C. Annual Dance competition held in Prince Rupert recently.
The win earned Kayla Corbin a place in the Australian Showcase Nationals in January, where competitors gather from all over the world.
Corbin, from the Judy Russell Enchainement Dance Studio, came in top spot among 24 competitors in the Dancer of the Year category, where contenders are put through their paces during the week-long dance competition. The Dancer of the Year category has been part of the annual dance contest since about 2003, said Russell.
Corbin, who has been in dance since she was five years old, said she's pretty excited about the trip.
On top of competing in tap, lyrical, and modern dance, the competition for dancer of the year brought its own challenges, including a two-hour rehearsal where an adjudicator asked the competitors to put together an original piece and then perform it.
"Kayla is one of those people who consistently steps on the stage and shows in that three minutes that she belongs there," said Russell.
During the showcase in Australia, dancers compete for triple threat scholarships, with the focus on how versatile a dancer can be. When presented with impromptu choreography, the performers have to learn it in a limited amount of time, in the style of dance the adjudicator chooses. If successful, auditions for workshops to develop dance skills, as well as opportunities to audition for Princess Cruises are available to those 18 years and older. Corbin will have to wait to audition for jobs, as she's only 16.
Corbin was the Sugar Plum Fairy in Judy Russell's last Nutcracker, and recently competed in the Prince George Dance Festival, where she placed first in tap, pointe and variety duo. During the B.C. dance competition, she placed first in tap and lyrical and was on the winning team in the extreme dancer category, while also placing second in modern dance.
Corbin said she hopes to find work in Toronto or Los Angeles in the future.
The Judy Russell dance studio, the only studio from Prince George that competed, had 48 dancers participate in the B.C. Annual Dance competition and took away $23,000 of prize money in group dance, duo and solo performances, and also for best choreography.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 21 May 2008 )
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