(submitted photo/Derrick Smith)

By Ian Gustafson

Dancing Shoes

Seventh annual Dance Blast will see 600 performances over four days

Mar 5, 2020 | 12:00 PM

Prince Albert is set to host a four-day long festival this week.

Starting Thursday, the Performing Arts Warehouse will showcase its seventh annual Dance Blast at the E.A. Rawlinson Centre.

President of the Dance Blast Derrick Smith said this year they have dancers coming from 11 different studios from around the province. Approximately 550 dancers will attend, and 600 performances will take place over the next four days from Thursday until Sunday.

“The theatre a lot of times Friday night, Saturday night will be full — we’ll have max capacity in the theatre for definitely the evening weekend shows that are with the larger groups. They’ll fill up really quick,” Smith said.

Dance groups from P.A., Shellbrook, Nipawin, Carrot River, Melfort, Tisdale, Aberdeen and Rosthern will take part in the festival to name a few.

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“The main purpose right now is it’s kind of the first competition of the season for everybody,” he said. “Our goal is kind of to have fun. We’re a fun festival so even though it’s a competition you’re really competing against yourself to get the best marks that you can.”

There will many different types of dances including ballet, jazz, modern, or hip hop as well as solo, duets and small and large group dances.

All the medal placements through the weekend are based on marks. Gold, silver and bronze medals will be handed out based on daily performances. There will be additional recognition awards for most outstanding group and special adjudicator award.

Smith said that award will be for “something that stood out to them, something they thought was performed really well or has really good potential to be a good number or just something they thought was fun and they liked.”

Performers range in ages between six to 18.

“It’s always a good event with a really good turnout. We always have new studios asking to come in,” he said. “We’re kind of at a capacity right now where we don’t have the ability to let more numbers in unless we either add days or somebody decide they’re not coming back for the year.”

He added over the last few years they’ve been growing and adding sessions which in turn means more requests to join.

“Lots of the parents come and watch and grandparents, siblings and stuff like that but anyone who is interested in dance or likes watching performances like that is welcome to come down for a session, a day or for the weekend,” he said.

Tickets will be available at the door.

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Ian.gustafson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @iangustafson12