By Kate Vandermeulen – Director of Communications and Marketing

In the last few days of reading week, while many Gaiters were home relaxing or soaking up the sun on vacation, the members of the Bishop’s University Competitive Dance Team were hopping on an early morning bus to compete at Terpsichore University Dance Challenge in Guelph, Ontario. 

The event took place at the River Run Centre, a beautiful venue ready for a weekend packed full of dance. The Bishop’s team was in great company, competing against teams from McMaster University, University of Toronto, Wilfrid Laurier University, and Queen’s University, to name a few. The team of 26 dancers competed eight dances in a wide range of styles, which they have been practicing tirelessly since early September. 

The ballet number ‘Whiplash’, choreographed by Abby Epstein, ranked ‘High Superior’ with a score of 93.71. Bridget Cloetta’s small group contemporary, ‘Way Down We Go’ and lyrical, ‘13 Beaches’, both ranked ‘High Superior’ with scores of 93.19 and 93.73 respectively. ‘42nd Street’, a small group musical theatre number choreographed by Sonoma Brawley, ranked ‘High Superior’ with a score of 93.07. The team’s large group Jazz number, choreographed by Gabby Lalonde, ranked ‘Superior’ with a score of 92.83, and Lalonde’s small group tap number, ‘Canyon Moon’, ranked ‘High Superior’ with a 93.74. With choreography by Kyddo, the team’s large group hip hop routine, ‘Drop’, ranked ‘High Superior’ with a score of 94.12. Lastly, the large group contemporary number, ‘Where There’s Smoke’, choreographed by Kate Vandermeulen, scored a 95.25 and ranked ‘Outstanding’. 

Third year dancer, Sonoma Brawley, said that “travelling to competition with the Dance Team was an incredible experience that brought us together to celebrate the hard work we’ve invested this year.” Gabe Pelletier, who is dancing on the team for the first time this year, commented on the competition’s atmosphere: “It was amazing to experience a dance competition in a university setting.” Brawley shared this sentiment: “It was so much fun to perform and cheer on my teammates and be in a community of university dancers!”

Overall, the team is delighted with their standings at competition, and the choreographers could not be more proud of the hard work their dancers have put in. Between the lengthy bus ride, the long hours spent at the competition, and the late nights in the hotel, the dancers are leaving with more than scores: they’ve gained performance experience, a sense of pride in their accomplishments and memories that will last them a lifetime. 

Want to catch the dancers in action? The Competitive, Pom, and Club teams will all be performing in their annual showcase A Movement in Time on April 4th at 7pm in Centennial Theatre. 

Kate Vandermeulen is the Senior Coordinator of BU Dance