Mackenzy Reid – Contributor 

After a long ten-hour travel day, the dancers of the Bishop’s University competitive dance team arrived in Brampton, Ontario, to compete in the Varsity regional dance competition hosted by Be Dance in the Be U series. Over March break weekend on Saturday, Mar. 7, the team brought to stage seven performances, all choreographed by our incredibly talented students here at Bishop’s. In a collaborative environment where dancers were encouraged to push artistic boundaries, the 18 dancers and their choreographers worked tirelessly to produce these unique performances, each showcasing the creative visions of our community. 

Image courtesy of Mackenzy Reid

The competition lineup included the following: a small-group hip-hop dance titled “How Low,” choreographed by Kyddo; a small-group jazz number titled “Feeling Good,” choreographed by Gabe Pelletier; a small-group musical theatre number titled “Mania,” choreographed by Shannon Gaskarth; a small-group contemporary piece titled “People You Meet (or Don’t) on the L Train,” choreographed by Kate Vandermeulen; a large-group contemporary performance titled “The Cave,” choreographed by team leader Léonie Gagnon; and two numbers choreographed by team leader Sonoma Brawley — a large-group jazz number titled “Come On” and a small-group tap number titled “Gym Day.”

There is nothing like the combination of nerves and excitement to create the butterflies at competitions, and we, the dancers, all felt incredibly lucky to be able to feel those emotions. This atmosphere speaks to what these competitions are truly about– continuing our passions for dance into adulthood. Being part of this team helps make that possible, and going to the Be U varsity competition brings us together with other communities that also get to live their passions and celebrate our talents. In a written statement, teammate Hannah- Michelle Samson speaks to this, stating, “My favourite part about comp was not only being able to spend time with my teammates, but also, seeing so many other schools and teams share the same passion and bond as us.” Her words perfectly capture the sense of unity and collective passion that culminated into an unforgettable weekend.

Every performance lit up the stage, finishing the weekend with an impressive team average score of 92.93. The team leaves feeling proud of not only their results, but the journey along the way. This competition served as a testament to the long hours and hard work all the dancers put in to get to Brampton this year, and the team couldn’t be prouder of the dedication each dancer put in that got them there. Reflecting on the experience, co-captain Léonie said: “This competition reminded me how lucky I am to have this family here away from home. Competition is about so much more than scores and numbers, it’s about the memories we create together, and we created so many!” The dancers fed off each other’s energy and it filled the room with genuine appreciation for not only the opportunity but having each other to share this experience with. As our time together comes to an end, we will continue to carry these memories long after we graduate and take comfort in knowing the relationships and support systems we’ve built will live on as we move along our separate paths in life.