The Yukon’s Northern Lights School of Dance (NLSD) picked up a series of awards at two dance festivals in British Columbia earlier this spring. According to an April 29 notice from the school, NLSD dancers placed in the top three 29 times and took home three major awards from the Peace River North Festival of the Arts, held in Fort St. John, B.C., on April 9 to 13. Earlier in the spring at the Prince George Dance Festival they placed 26 times. NLSD board president Lindsay Hartland explained that the dancers were judged at the festivals in a variety of categories based on their ages and dance styles. She said the three major award winners were: Aurelia Koh who took home the Love of Dance Trophy and Scholarship, Stella Burns who won the Be Discovered $2,500 Scholarship and Eloise Haselmayer and Sabrina Hartland shared in the 18-and-under contemporary duo award. “Our dancers have poured their hearts and souls into their work, and it’s clearly demonstrated in their performances and the recognition they receive at these competitive events. With the leadership of Marcy Mills, and with the countless hours in the studio, they’ve grown into some of Yukon’s finest dancers, with both moves and choreography that continue to wow their audiences. I’m so very proud of each and every student at NLSD,” Hartland said. Mills is NLSD’s stage dance director and acting artistic director. She led NLSD’s instructors in choreographing and guiding the school’s dancers leading up to the spring competitions according to an email from the school. “It is so lovely to see our dancers arrive at these competitions as their humble selves. They get inspired by the other competitors and it really lights a fire under them to push harder, perform more expressively and apply what the adjudicators are teaching them. They grow as a team helping each other with quick changes, makeup, hair, you name it, and they really support one another by cheering from the audience. Winning is not the end goal, learning and growing are the main objectives and I am so proud and grateful to see that growth every year,” Mills said. The email from NLSD notes that funding for travel to the competitions was made possible with support from Lotteries Yukon through its travel assistance program. The dance school has a pair of local shows coming up this month: NEWS….To Us, set in the world of television news, which will be staged at the Yukon Arts Centre on May 9 and 10 followed by Celebration of Swans – Our Ode to Swan Lake set for May 14 and 15 also at the arts centre. Contact Jim Elliot at jim.elliot@yukon-news.com
Northern Lights School of Dance wins big at spring competitions
