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Two Abbotsford dancers win medals at world dance competitions

Greg Kendall and Brooklyn McCarthy competed in Poland from Dec. 1-8
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Greg Kendall and Brooklyn McCarthy of Abbotsford display the awards they earned at the recent World Dance Championships in Poland. (Submitted photo)

Two Abbotsford dance students earned medals at world dance competitions for ballet, jazz and modern/contemporary in Poland from Dec. 1 to 8.

Greg Kendall and Brooklyn McCarthy – who both dance out of Creative Edge School of Arts in Abbotsford – were among 52 dancers representing Team Canada at the competitions.

They competed in the World Modern and Contemporary Championships from Dec. 1-4 and the World Ballet and Jazz Championships from Dec. 5-8.

Kendall was selected for the junior team (ages 12 to 15), and McCarthy was chosen for the children’s team (11 and under) from among 200 who auditioned for Team Canada in November 2018.

At the world championships, Kendall and his duo partner Amelia Belsey – who trains out of Maple Ridge – received the gold medal for their junior duo ballet.

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Kendall was also on the ballet formation that won the gold medal. His jazz formation received the silver and became vice world champions.

Kendall also received fifth overall with his solo in the junior male jazz category, while his modern formation received 11th overall.

McCarthy’s children’s ballet group received the silver medal.

Canada also won a gold medal in the adult ballet female solo category, and silver medals in both the adult jazz formation and junior ballet group.

Dancers for Team Canada were selected from across B.C., with one dancer even travelling from Saskatchewan to be on the squad.

The world championships are hosted by the International Dance Organization. Rehearsals for Team Canada started in June 2019 and were held at Affinity Dance in Langley.

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Greg Kendall of Abbotsford and dance partner Amelia Belsey of Maple Ridge captured a gold medal in junior duo ballet at the recent World Dance Championships iin Poland.


Vikki Hopes

About the Author: Vikki Hopes

I have been a journalist for almost 40 years, and have been at the Abbotsford News since 1991.
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