After an extensive audition process, Abbotsford dancers Kelly Blancas, Taya Bjarnson, Summer Sheehan and Avery Senft have been accepted onto Team Canada West.
They will be representing Canada in Jazz/Ballet and Modern at the International Dance Organization World Championships in Poland this December, along with 40 of Canada’s best dancers from the Lower Mainland.
The IDO World Championships is the Olympics of dance. Last year, Canada won best international team overall for the second year running with the most gold medals of the 24 participating countries.
Each dancer must raise more than $3,600 to attend the competition. They have been fundraising around the community all summer long.
Most of the dancers dance 20 hours a week and then dance for hours on the weekend with Team Canada.
Their big fundraiser as a team is their show on November 29th at Massey Theatre "Gala for GOLD", during which they will perform along with guests and hold a silent and live auction. The money raised is divided up amongst the 40 dancers just before heading off to Poland.
Team Canada is led by head choreographer Danielle Gardner of “So You Think You Can Dance” for jazz and modern, and choreographer Caitlin Griffin for ballet.