She's taking her skills to new heights and it appears the sky is the limit for local dancer Lauren Denysek who just captured first place at a recent Saskatchewan Youth Talent Search held in Saskatoon.
A long time student of Dance Innovations in Yorkton, Denysek has been dancing since the age of three. Her latest accomplishment will mean she moves on to a national competition as the sole representative for this province.
In August, at the 2011 Saskatchewan Youth Talent Search, the local dancer went up against some of the province's top talent - from fellow dancers, to singers to musicians - and in the end it was her tap number that won out. Contestants were judged on natural ability, showmanship, audience appeal and overall quality of performance.
Up against 35 other skilled performers, Denysek says it was an experience she won't soon forget.
"It was a bit nerve wracking. You're never sure what the judges are looking for... and there are so many other talented acts but it was also cool to see other people perform."
She worked hard to prepare though and it paid off. "I have been practicing this tap solo for the whole competition season. I just kept working on it, kept going over it and hoping it would go well on stage... it was a big sigh of relief when I got off the stage," she says.
That said, a great dance performance can't happen without great choreography and coaching. Denysek credits her dance teacher Tammy Sullivan Kostersky for helping her grow and perfect her moves. Both she says, worked long hours together and through trail and error came up with the perfect winning show.
The triumph means Denysek will now move on to the national level to compete in the Canadian Youth Talent Competition, slated for November in London, Ontario.
The annual competition has turned out Canadian Idol finalists and even had the likes of crooner Michael Buble participate in 1996.
"It's an all expense paid trip and I'm really excited to take part and to see the other talent from Canada."
Denysek will be Saskatchewan's only representative and she says she'll be spending plenty of time preparing leading up to the event.
"I'll be going over everything, looking at what might have gone wrong so I can make it, really, really solid. And really I just want to have fun with it because if you're not having fun the audience won't have fun."
Currently in Grade 11, Denysek says her plan is to both continue with dance after high school as well as go to University.
"I'm not sure if I want to go to L.A. or stay in Canada, or maybe even Broadway - that would be cool because I like to sing also. I'm not sure where I'll go with it but it's definitely a part of my plans for the next few years."
It's for certain on her list for 2011. After the London event the local teen is taking to the skies to compete in a World challenge.
After a recent audition in Winnipeg she learned she has made the adult Canadian Tap team so as a result, she will travel to Germany in late November or early December to compete against dance teams from all over the world in the World Tap Dance Championships for 2011.
Yorkton's Zachariah and Kaytia Kostersky will also be competing at the same event but at the Intermediate and Junior levels.
Stay tuned for more as it won't be the last we're hearing from Yorkton's dance talent.
