Don Ross Centre rocked with creativity and grace April 9 to 12 as the venue of the 2012 Battlefords Dance Festival.
Hosted by the Battlefords Dance Festival Association, the festival attracted participants from nine different dance schools including Annette's School of Dance, Dance Connection, J D Rosetown, La Danse, Saskatchewan Express, Sask School, Studio One, Unity and Wilkie.
The two main prizes handed out at the competition included the Battlefords Dance Festival Association Trophy and Scholarship to the outstanding top performer of the festival of any age. That award went to Kennedy Elder of La Danse, who received a scholarship of $300.
As well, a $300 award by Studio One was awarded to the top junior performer of the festival. That award went to Presli O'Donnell of the Unity School of Dance.
Other major dance trophies and awards handed out at the close of the event on Thursday included:
The River City Plumbing and Heating Top Aggregate Award and Scholarship of $100, awarded to Kennedy Elder of La Danse.
The Marks Work Wearhouse $300 scholarship awarded to an individual dancer displaying promise and dedication at any age, awarded to Tamryn Eglington of La Danse.
The Valerie Armet Memorial Scholarship of $300 went to a solo performer who has competed in two or more solos who exudes a strong heart, passion and dedication for performing. That went to Bailey Delainey of Dance Connection.
The Dawn Palmer Memorial Scholarship of $150 went to a dancer in any form, any age, displaying showmanship and enthusiasm for dance, by adjudicator's choice, and the recipient was Chris Holtkamp of Saskatchewan Express.
There were two adjudicator's choice awards presented to teachers for excellence in choreography at the event. Adjudicator Niki Wozniak presented her award to Virginia Winterhalt of Dance Connection for the performance Less than Perfect. Adjudicator Cathryn Croft presented her award to Hazel-Ann Stark of La Danse for the performance What it Is.
Awards were also handed out for ballet, tap, modern dance, jazz, musical theatre, lyrical, production, open and hip hop categories, as well as eight workshop scholarships.
