When the contingent of Prince George highland dancers packed their bags for the USA, they expected to learn a lot, have some fun, meet some other highland dancers from around North America, and bring home a lot of experiences. When you attend a competition as large and prestigious as the British Association of Teachers of Dance (BATD) - North American Highland Scholarships, held each year in Seattle, you certainly don't expect to win. Yet, two of the young dancers from Bonnie Leach's Excalibur Theatre Arts studio did earn trophies - in the same category.
Twelve-year-old Breanna Larson picked up the fourth place hardware while 14-year-old Katherine Saunderson won the top prize in the Junior Written Paper category. It is the exam the participants must take before competing in the dance events. Understanding the history and theory behind the ages-old Scottish traditional steps they do is considered as important as the footwork itself.
"It was really confusing," said Larson, remembering hearing her number called then her name to verify. "It was a surprise to be chosen out of all those people. I wasn't sure what to do as I realized they were calling me."
Even though she came fifth last year in the same category - perhaps because she came fifth last year - Saunderson was particularly stunned by the announcement.
"When we realized they were calling Breanna for fourth place I thought, well, that's it, I don't have a hope of doing better than she does," Saunderson said. "As they said my name and number I could only think 'what?' in my head. I couldn't move at first. It was hard to register that we had both made the Top 5."
All the other competitors - there were about 50 in their category - were highly trained, steeped in the traditions of the symbolic cultural dance of Scotland. It was easy to feel intimidated by the level of talent, both girls agreed, but their success is a strong indication to their own esteem that they, too, are in that top-shelf talent bracket that assembles each year for the BATD event.
It wasn't all exams and judged dance routines. There were classes and workshops, there was networking. Even the teachers are there to learn.
"Every teacher had a different approach to teaching," said Larson. "The dancing was obviously the same, it never changes, but each one has a different way of explaining things, giving you different 'cheat sheets' for remembering what to do."
"No one is ever perfect. Even the world champion has something to work on," said Saunderson.
Leach was honoured at the Seattle event with a lifetime membership in the BATD for her 25 years of teaching. "I always learn a lot myself at the workshops, and come back a better teacher," she said. "I got to watch my students dance with dancers from all over North America and saw them grow. So I came home so proud of the girls and inspired to keep doing the best I can for them."
The highland dancers of the area will be on stage Nov. 8 for the region's own great confluence of kilts. The annual Central Interior Highland Dance Association's premier and pre-premier competitions will be held starting at 9 a.m. All events are held at the Connaught Youth Centre.
