Seven days, 250 dance students, 374 prizes and 803 performances all came down to three dancers at the BC Annual Dance Competition gala May 11 at the Lester Centre.
Following an exciting first half of the evening’s program featuring reprises of the best performances from the weeklong contest, it was time to name the performers of the year in senior, intermediate and junior age groups.
Prince Rupert’s Mia Lan did the host city and Dance Academy of Prince Rupert proud taking the top prize of $1,000 among the 13 juniors competing in the performer of the year category.
Emeline Hanna from Terrace and Natalie Whelan of Prince George rounded out the Top 3.
In the senior group, Claire Westerlaken from Prince George got her name on the trophy and took home the $1,000 first-place cheque among 19 competitors.
Runners-up were Edan Jairus Tadiaman of Terrace and Prince Rupert’s Nolan Robinson.
Prince George also prevailed in the intermediate group with Grace Mangan placing atop her 26 co-competitors.
The sold-out gala, featuring champagne and hors d’oeuvres, capped arguably the biggest week in the annual arts calendar of Prince Rupert.