High praise for Niko’s team after Mundare dancers capture world gold

BY JANA SEMENIUK

Three young dancers from Mundare captured gold medals at the World Dance Cup in Whistler B.C. earlier this month.

Matthew Kit, 14, his sister Brynn, 12, along with dance partner Ruth Derow, 12, performed the winning 50s rock and roll medley tap dance number choreographed by Niko’s Dance Team instructor Quincy Pipella.

Matthew and Brynn’s mother, Shauna Kit, said the group has worked hard over the past year with Matthew winning three dance scholarships in addition to winning gold at several competitions with his sister and Derow. Kit said that one competition in Fort Saskatchewan was the team’s ticket into the World Cup.

“They did this number at the (Sundance) competitions in Fort

Saskatchewan, (and) the adjudicator there was able to give a ticket. She was able to choose the performance she was moved by and she gave (them) this ticket straight to the World Dance Cup that would be held in Whistler this July,” she said. “That was a very special thing.”

The World Dance Cup, first held in Vancouver B.C. in 2008, attracts dancers from all around the world with competitions in each age group and dance category. Dancers can only participate by invitation with seven age categories from six and under to over 30.

Kit said Matthew has been dancing since the age of seven while Brynn and Ruth have been dancing since they were five.

“Matthew has a real passion for dance. He is also a competitive hip hop dancer in Edmonton (and) does his technical dances, ballet, tap, Jazz, and hip hop out of Niko’s (Dance Team), and then he is also part of Mantra Movement, which is a competitive Hip Hop studio that he also (dances with),” she said.

Kit said she homeschools her two children which allows them the freedom to travel and devote time for their passion.

“We homeschool with Vista Virtual. (I) love their program and it enables us to do this kind of stuff.

(It’s with) Pembina Hills school division (and) it's full Alberta curriculum. All the material is sent (and) laid out, you just have to follow it,” she said. “Homeschooling allows us that freedom.”

In addition to homeschooling, Kit said several local families support each other by taking turns carpooling their children to Ryley for dance classes at Niko’s Dance Team, just over 30 kilometers away.

“As a community we make this work,” said Kit, adding they have been attending Niko’s for the past six years.

“(Niko’s Dance Team) often gets overlooked because it's small town, but it isn't every day that local kids are getting invited to do stuff like (World Dance Cup) and that's 100 percent from their training and their teachers and their mentorship.”

Niko’s recently celebrated their 20th anniversary this year.

Meanwhile, Matthew will also be travelling to New York next week with his mother to attend a week-long training camp.