A hip-hop dancer shows off a little bit of attitude. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Community events

Prince Albert dance festival enjoys record year

Apr 11, 2024 | 5:12 PM

Double the attitude and double the fun.

The 19th annual Prince Albert Festival of Dance has taken over the E.A. Rawlinson Centre. Festival Director Rene Boden noted it’s their biggest festival ever.

“We’v got 710 dancers enrolled in our festival this year. We’ve drawn from all around our local community area and from the Saskatoon area,” she said.

The Prince Albert Festival of Dance is a non-profit competitive dance festival for ages 6 to 19 and features a variety of styles including Ballet, Jazz, Acro, Tap, Hip-Hop, Lyrical and Contemporary, as well as Musical Theatre.

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Noting how fortunate the city is to have a facility like the E.A. Rawlinson Centre to host an event like this, Boden also expressed her gratitude to the over 100 volunteers who have stepped up to help out.

“It does take a village to make all this happen,” she said, adding planning started as soon as last year’s festival ended.

In addition to the pride that comes with performing for family and friends, the dancers are also competing for $22,000 worth of awards, which comes directly from sponsor support.

“We just really appreciate all the community support and hope our dancers have a really good week,” Boden said.

Adjudicators from Toronto provide the dancers with constructive feedback. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Hanna Markling, 8, represents the Prince Albert Dance Company, and told paNOW she loves the competition.

“You get to dance and have fun,” she said, adding she also enjoys seeing her friends win points and how happy and joyful everyone is.

Meanwhile 13-year-old Kinsey Peifer is with the Nipawin School of Dance, and said she enjoys getting feedback from the judges, so she can become a better dancer. She also noted the festival in Prince Albert stands out above others she’s attended.

“I feel like it’s way more serious and way more competitive,” she said.

A lyrical soloist shows off her flexibility. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

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