BOW VALLEY – Biggie Smalls once said “never let anyone know your next move.”
The hip-hop legend’s words weren’t taken up on by the Canmore Dance Corps in its latest competitive season, though, because its hapless competitors already knew what was about to happen, but they couldn’t stop the beat anyway.
The short competition schedule finished for the little studio from Canmore, which turned out to be its most accomplished and award-filled yet, to which owner and artistic director Jill Danielson said they’re all “just bamboozled by the whole thing.”
“We have an eclectic mix of routines and styles,” said Danielson. “I really do think the range that we bring to each competition is so vast and our concepts are really unique that I had strangers from other studios approach me at the events to tell me how much they love Canmore’s dance routines and how creative we are.”
This year, though, stood out for the studio that’s consistently competing against bigger city clubs.
Overflowing with accolades from dynamic routines over three events, there were too many prizes for Danielson to name, but the significant ones for the studio were winning two competition main event awards for “Sisters of Light”, several top choreography awards and many more adjudicator choice awards – and those were just team awards.
Following a remarkable season, standout performer Tsukino Mori capped things off on a high note, winning her first-ever highest score of the competition at Wanna Dance? from May 10-12 in Banff.
“It may not ever happen, but I am just happy I was able to do that,” said Mori.
Much like iconic hip-hop artist 2Pac’s appropriately titled album All Eyez On Me, at this year’s Wanna Dance? all eyes were on Mori while she performed “In The Shirt”, her personal piece that moved some of the judges to tears.
“I really put my emotion into it,” said Mori. “I have this shirt and it reminds me of someone special, but I need to leave it in the past and I need to move on. In my piece, I hold it at the beginning and then throw it away throughout.”
A huge season for the 16-year-old dancer, Mori won several scholarships to dance in the United States in the process.
“It’s really about what the dancer is bringing out of themselves that’s really going to showcase them to that extra level,” said Danielson. “Bringing a special magic to it.”
To close out the season, Canmore Dance Corps has its year-end showcase from May 30 to June 2 at artsPlace. All six shows are sold out.
