Although she loves to dance, creating choreography seems to be where Amber Downie-Back's true affections lie.
Downie-Back, a 17-year-old D.P. Todd student, claimed the title of Overall Dance Excellence during the Prince George Dance Festival last week at Vanier Hall where more than 500 dancers showcased their talent in 1,200 dance numbers.
During the festival Downie-Back danced in five solos, a duet, 11 group performances, then six more at the gala showcase and choreographed 15 solos and duos and two group dances.
It took months of preparation.
Downie-Back has danced since she was three and has taught for the last three years at Judy Russell Enchainement Dance Studio.
"If I had to choose favourites it would be contemporary and hip hop," said Downie-Back. "I'm interested in the fusion of the two styles, which is happening in the dance world right now. Both dances are grounded and I'm not really as balletic as some people and I really like the strong form. It hits hard and that's what I like about it."
Jazz, modern contemporary, hip hop, lyrical, ballet, dance conditioning and musical theatre are the classes Downie-Back attends now.
When she attends the Performing Arts BC Provincial Festival from June 3 to 7 in Penticton, she will do two modern contemporary solos, take classes and attend workshops. The top three dancers in each discipline will perform in a gala performance at the end of the festival.
Downie-Back hopes dance will always be part of her life and she's applied to Concordia University in Montreal, where the main focus is on choreography.
"Montreal is a very exciting dance centre, so I'm really hoping I get in," said Downie-Back, who has also applied to the political science program, asking for a double major.
"I want to be able to explore human rights both academically and artistically," she added. "When I'm choreographing pieces or dancing it's about some sort of human rights issues."
She's choreographed pieces about organ donation, mental illness, slavery, the holocaust and the Tiananmen Square massacre.
"It's open to interpretation," explained Downie-Back.
"I don't tell people what it's about for me. It's about different things for different people and that's what makes dance interesting. That's what I like exploring."
