just dance! | Winter 2016 | Vol 4 | Issue 7

Our Holiday Gift Guide is Back! See page 20 now!

Winter 2016 | Vol. 5 | Issue 2

justdancemagazine.com PMA #42721520

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2 just dance! | Summer 2016

INThISISSUE

Features: Guillaume Côté On Being a Boy who Loved Ballet, Ballet Class & The Nutcracker ................................................................ 10

by Lori Straus Holiday Gift Guide................................................................................ 20

in every issue: Publisher's Letter...................................................................................... 4 In the spotlight: Tate McRae................................................................. 6

by Jillian Groening just dance! Wants to Know...What is your favourite costume of all time?................................................................................ 14 Suzanne sits down with just dance! magazine................................ 16

by Racquel Foran Meet The Pro: Kat Stefankiewicz........................................................... 22

by Lori Straus Dancing DIversions............................................................................. 27 Balance A mentally healthy you.......................................................... 29

by Heidi Turner just dance! Directory............................................................................ 30 Cover photo: School of Alberta Ballet student and SYTYCD second runner-up Tate McRae. Credit: Chris Reilly

Winter 2016 | just dance! 3

FromThepublisher

W

riting this

We also like to show our readers the

letter is

many career opportunities their dance

usually one

training can provide them with. On page

of the last things I

22, we introduce you to Toronto Raptors

do before we send

game host Kat Stefanwiekicz. Much like

the magazine off

most of our readers, she started out in her

to the printer. I like to read all the issue’s

community dance studio, but landed an

articles and see how the magazine looks

unexpected dream job after completing

before I start writing. And in the case of

her post-secondary training. She offers

this, our Winter issue, I also like to take

great advice to aspiring professionals.

time to reflect on the previous year. It is the finished magazine and the stories of our great Canadian talents that inspire me. And as always there is plenty to be inspired by; it has been an exciting year for Canadian dancers and dance.

It is also the time of year that the music of Tchaikovsky fills the air with performances of The Nutcracker on stages across the country throughout December. On page 27 we provide you with a complete list of dance companies that will be performing

In June 2016, Ballet BC’s Emily Molnar

this holiday classic. Among them, Goh

was appointed to the Order of Canada

Ballet in Vancouver, who will include

for her artistic leadership of Ballet BC

The National Ballet of Canada principal

and creative contribution to advancing

dancer Guillaume Côté as the prince in

dance in Canada. We were not able to

their production. Turn to page 10 to learn

cover the story when it happened, but

why this ballet is so special to Côté.

we still want to acknowledge Molnar, and congratulate her.

With fewer daylight hours and the holidays just around the corner,

In our Winter 2015 issue we featured Travis

depression can increase. Teen mental

Lim “On the Cover” and In the Spotlight.

health is an important topic. On page

We are thrilled that 2016 turned out to be

29, Heidi Turner gives a general overview

nothing short of spectacular for him. The

of the topic and provides resources; the

year started with his own TV show, Hip

read is worth your time.

Hop with Travis Lim, premiering on Shaw TV, and peaked in October when he was named World Junior Hip Hop Champion at the IDO World Hip Hop, Electric Boogie & Break Dance Championships. We have been following Travis since we first launched; it is exciting for us to see him achieve his dreams.

Finally, we are sad to say that this will be our last installment of Suzanne Sits Down With. Suzanne’s schedule has simply become too busy for her to continue to squeeze us in. So, for this issue we decided to have Suzanne sit down with just dance!

I was the lucky writer that got to interview her and, as always, it was wonderful time.

Of course, another thrill for young

Suzanne’s stories flow fast and freely.

Canadian dancers, was watching our

She has a wealth of information that

cover and spotlight dancer, Tate McRae,

she shares generously; and her contacts

compete in So You Think You Can Dance:

are a literal who’s who of dance and

Next Generation. Meet Tate and learn

musical theatre royalty. We will miss

more about her busy schedule and future

her connections and contributions, but

dreams on page 6. This School of Alberta

hope you enjoy learning a little bit more

Ballet student is sure to inspire you with her

about the woman whom I consider to be

enthusiasm and love of dance.

Canada’s best kept dance secret.

Happy Holidays and Keep Dancing!

4 just dance! | Winter 2016

— Racquel

34A - 2755 Lougheed Hwy Suite 212 Port Coquitlam, BC V3B 5Y9 justdancemagazine.com facebook.com/jdmagazinebc Publisher & Managing Editor Racquel Foran racquel@justdancemagazine.com General Inquiries info@justdancemagazine.com Art Director (Ad production, layout, & image submission guidelines) Laura Bellis laura@justdancemagazine.com Advertising Sales info@justdancemagazine.com Contributing Writers Racquel Foran | Jillian Groening Lori Straus | Heidi Turner Copy Editor Rochelle Blaak-Herron Contributing Photographers David Cooper | Getty Images David Lopez | Light Imaging | Chris Reilly Nicol Spinola | Cylla von Tiedemann

just dance! magazine is available for $14 per year (4 issues) To subscribe visit justdancemagazine.com Please return undeliverable addresses to: 0970200 BC Ltd. 1220 Gabriola Drive Coquitlam, BC V3E 1G3 Tel: 778 239 9194 Publication Mail Agreement No. 42721520 Copyright © just dance! magazine 2016: Material appearing in this publication may not be reproduced in print or electronically without written permission of the publisher, and without proper credit given. Editorial viewpoints and opinions do not necessarily reflect the view of the publishers.

Advertising and Photo Submissions: Ads must be submitted as a PDF or a high-res TIFF file.

Photos embedded in ads must be converted to CMYK. All ads and photo submissions must be a minimum of 300 dpi. Please contact the art director at laura@justdancemagazine.com with any questions regarding advertisement or photo submission guidelines.

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Tate

McRae is I n t h e S potlig h t

by Jillian Groening

gone on to medal at Youth America Grand Prix events.

The thirteen-year-old triple threat from Calgary, Alberta caught the performance bug at an early age, spending much of her childhood singing and dancing for her family and friends.

“When I was eight, something just clicked and I have loved [dance] so much ever since,” Tate explains over the phone.

She is on break between her afternoon school courses and is bright and bubbly, despite arriving home late the night before from a stint performing on The Ellen Show in Los Angeles for what will be the second time this year. “I work my butt off every single day because [dance] is just what I love to do. It’s what I want to do in my future.”

Enrolled in her first formal lessons at the age of six, Tate was initially unsure of her commitment to dance, viewing it more as a hobby, but by the time the young performer attended her first Nationals Convention two years later she was hooked. Tate set out the following year and was awarded Mini Best Dancer at The 2013 Dance Awards in New York City.

Since then, Tate has won the Junior Best Dancer at The 2015 Dance Awards and 6 just dance! | Winter 2016

Performing a hip hop piece choreographed by esteemed artist William “Willdabeast” Adams and directed by Mandy Moore of So You

Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD), Tate was unfazed by being the youngest dancer in the troupe that day.

“Performing on Ellen was super exciting,” Tate says. “I got to meet so many new people and do some new moves.”

The burgeoning performer has worked with Adams before, dancing his choreography at the Teen Choice Awards, as well as her previous Ellen Show performance.

Staying grounded and focused on the task at hand allows Tate to transition smoothly between hip hop, contemporary, and ballet. Less than 24 hours after hopping on a plane home from LA, the multi-faceted mover was at

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Tate McRae is living proof that hard work does pay off.

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the ballet barre, hair slicked and slippers on, attending her daytime classes as a fulltime student in the Professional Division at the School of Alberta Ballet (SAB).

Navigating a hectic schedule is another one of Tate’s many talents.

From mornings training at the ballet (it’s her fourth year there), to junior high academics, to evenings spent practicing with the YYC Dance Project, a contemporary partnership with the SAB’s Professional Division, to weekend conventions and a myriad of personal projects, Tate is practiced in the art of the full agenda. You might even say she thrives on it.

Fox (x2)

“I am very motivated and super driven with whatever I do,” Tate states. “I always love to have a jam-packed schedule so that I have a goal to work towards and I always like to have stuff on my plate ‘cause that’s just how my brain works.”

Tate makes the Energizer bunny look lazy all the while juggling multiple high-pressure projects with grace. From sharing the stage with Justin Bieber,

where she had the wild experience of performing at the very first concert she ever attended, to taking part in music videos for bands such as Walk Off The Earth, to a Capezio sponsorship, Tate’s openness for new experiences keeps her on her toes and allows her to continue to learn and progress at alarming rates while remaining humble.

Succeeding in every dance style thrown her way, it is contemporary and lyrical that Tate is happy to call her favourites.

“The thing about contemporary is that as soon as the music comes on it makes me want to move,” Tate reflects. “It motivates me so much. I always love improving and dancing to contemporary music, because it’s so passionate, you can really express your emotions.”

Tate competing on SYTYCD: Next Generation (top & bottom).

One of Tate’s latest ventures involved taking her passion for contemporary performance to the masses. The better part of 2016 saw Tate featured on the hit series SYTYCD: Next Generation.

Approaching it in her usual mature manner, Tate was filled with a healthy Winter 2016 | just dance! 7

{ I N t h e sp o t l igh t }

Tate McRae

“The entire thing was surreal, words can’t even explain how I felt when I was on the [SYTYCD] stage,” Tate gushes. “Each week was so different and exciting; it was a dream come true for me.”

Sharing her love of dance on national television not only allowed her performance skills to grow, but Tate also got to connect with her mentor throughout the season, contemporary dancer Kathryn McCormick.

“My one goal was just to make it to the end of the competition, and that’s what I did with my amazing mentor, [McCormick], and with all of the awesome dancers that were beside me” Tate says. “I’m just so grateful for the entire experience.”

Texting almost every day, McCormick acts as a big sister to Tate, which was especially powerful when the young dancer was away from home for months.

Family is important to Tate, as well as being one of the reasons she was lucky to find her passion for dance so quickly.

Her mother, Tanja Rosner, ran a dance studio during the years her daughter was learning to crawl, walk, spin, and jump. Growing up watching dance class, 8 just dance! | Winter 2016

surrounded by movement and music, had a great influence on the young professional.

“My mom is definitely a huge inspiration to me,” says Tate. “My mom is my dance teacher and every single day she pushes me past my limits and makes me dance past my potential. She’s always super supportive, it’s a really cool relationship that we have.”

One of the co-directors for the YYC Dance Program, Rosner instills a healthy work ethic on her students. With a focus on integrating contemporary technique and movement flow with highly trained ballet students, the program allows the performers to develop their skills in the most well-rounded way possible.

“Watching [Tate] create [her career] on her own, because she wants it, is kind of cool,” Rosner says. “It’s now in her hands and I can step back and watch her be an artist rather than just being her teacher.”

For Tate, this balanced training has exposed her to many different opportunities and has allowed her to keep her options for the future open.

Between dance, singing, and acting, who knows where her curiosity and enthusiasm will take her.

“At the moment I’m trying to keep all of my options open and hoping that new opportunities will come,” Tate says. “Until then I’m just going to keep working as hard as I can.”

Chris Reilly

excitement set on learning from new choreographers and growing as an artist. Tate ended the season placing as second runner-up, meaning she was the highest ranked female in the show as well as the first Canadian to place on the American reality TV series.

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Guillaume Côté in The Nutcracker.

Guillaume Côté on Being a Boy Who Loved Ballet, Ballet Class, & The Nutcracker

by Lori Straus

If there’s one thing that National Ballet of Canada principal dancer Guillaume Côté could tell his teenager self, it’s to be patient. “I would talk to myself and say, ‘Just be more patient and everything will happen when it’s meant to happen if you just focus on the work. Just focus on the work that you need to do today. Don’t focus on the results, focus on the work.’”

For dancers who aren’t fully grown yet, he also advises patience: pay attention to your body and don’t force it to do what it can’t yet do. He caused a few injuries to himself in his youth, because he pushed himself too hard. (Côté also wants dance teachers to understand the importance of managing an injured student’s workload: “It’s not because you have a class of 20 that everyone needs to be pushed at the same pace and at the same level.”)

So, how has Côté’s outlook changed since his teen years? Now that he’s in his 10 just dance! | Winter 2016

Cylla von Tiedemann

Then he explains why this should’ve been important to him 20 years ago: “I think when you’re younger and you’re starting out, you kind of want to be there already, you know? You kind of want to be at the finish line instead of looking at how long the run is and how long the process is and how enjoyable the process is,” he says.

30s, he’s not “just trying to get through it.

I’m actually trying to really work on every moment and make sense of every touch with a partner, every position that links the steps together,” he says.

and they’re athletes and they’re some of the most wonderful and inspiring sort of icons we have in Canada. Why is that any different than what we wear in the studio for ballet?”

But Côté says it’s also important to keep something in mind: “I do think that it’s a reality that you will always come across people who don’t understand what you do. I still do!”

For Côté, no space offers him more joy, comfort, and fulfillment than a dance studio, precisely because that’s where he can focus on the journey towards continually improving his dance.

“I can spend hours there on my own and be very happy,” he says.

He says that if you’re feeling particularly alone in your love for ballet, jump online.

Guillaume Côté

Like all male ballet dancers, Côté grew up wearing tights. Although he’s mentioned in other media that he never experienced any teasing in his small hometown of Lac-Saint-Jean, Québec, he knows it can be hard for some boys to admit they love ballet, because of the stigma ballet carries for them. Côté has a simple piece of advice: “Look at the Olympics.

All these guys are in tights. They’re heroes

“If you’re passionate about ballet, you can watch as much as you can on the Internet and you can realize that there’s a whole community of people who really, really love this and it’s okay. It’s great.”

Côté has certainly contributed to the online world of ballet, including producing two short films: Lost in Motion I and Lost in Motion II. Off-line, he also

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Because it’s the time when students from all over the world, really, come together at Christmas time and this is when they can be part of a production where you don’t have to just be focused on technique. […] Everybody loves it and for me, it’s a constant reminder every year that young students and young kids are, at heart, such imaginative beings and so inspiring.”

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created and choreographed his first full-length ballet, Le Petit Prince, which had its world premiere in Toronto earlier this year. (Pick up a copy of our Fall 2016 issue to read about the production.) In addition, he’s the Artistic Director of the Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur, a summer dance festival in Québec.

How does he do it all? Côté only takes on projects that let him maintain the high quality of ballet he’s become known for. The projects must also complement each other and his dance so he doesn’t require extra training, which takes up time.

As you may have guessed by now, Côté doesn’t stop. In December, he’ll be performing the role of the Prince in Goh Ballet’s The Nutcracker in Vancouver.

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do it for: This is why we dance."

Côté’s an old hat at this ballet: he’s performed The Nutcracker almost every year since he first attended the National Ballet of Canada’s school. He was 11 then, and he’s 34 now. Although this is the first time he’ll dance The Nutcracker since the 2014 knee injury he sustained during a Nutcracker performance, he has no qualms about returning to the production.

What he loves most about this annual classic is how it brings together students and professionals. “I feel that when you’re on stage with professionals, you’re constantly within the realm of criticism and perfectionism and high energy,” he says. “To be free and let your artistry flow is not always an easy process.”

For Côté, artistry is connected to imagination and confidence. He believes that if dancers have the confidence to both lose themselves in a role or move and display that in a genuine and real way, then artistry starts to shine through. Kids can help with that. “When suddenly you’re in the middle of fantasy and you’ve got big kids who are just skipping around and having so much fun, you’re kind of reminded what you do it for: This is why we dance.”

Dance for Côté is an all-encompassing way of life. Apart from his countless hours in the studio, he also catches other dance shows and guests in different cities. Sounds like a workaholic, doesn’t it? But not for Côté: “It’s not really work because I really love what I do.”

12 just dance! | Winter 2016

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My favourite costume of all time is an angel costume.

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Age: 16

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My favourite costume is my ballet tutu shown in this picture.

My favourite dance costume was from “POP - the question” Stage Group because everyone wore a different costume during this dance and in the middle of the dance I went off stage and added a veil to my costume; I was pretending that I just got married.

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My favourite dance costume was my Spanish Rose Stage Solo, because half way through the dance I whipped off my skirt and it seemed as though I had a whole different costume on.

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Dancefusion Academy of Dance, Sherwood Park, AB This costume was my lyrical solo from last season, and was my absolute favourite! I received so many compliments on it at competition!

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My favourite dance costume was my Lyrical group “Bring Back our Girls”, it had a big red bow in the back which was a symbol for the “Bring Back our Girls” campaign - the girls who were kidnapped in Nigeria.

Winter 2016 | just dance! 15

SuzanneSitsDownWith

Suzanne sits down with… just dance!

Suzanne teaching at Douglas College.

b y Racq u e l F o r a n

Suzanne offering "handson" guidance to a student at The Landing Dance Centre.

I

Suzanne contributed her first “sit-down” Q&A to just dance! in our Spring 2014 issue. Her interview with Heather Ogden gave us a sneak peek at the work and rise of a Canadian prima ballerina. Since then, Suzanne has introduced us to a diverse group of talented Canadians.

We are truly grateful for the opportunity she gave us to share their stories and successes.

But the nine individuals she introduced us to are only the tip of her networking iceberg. Reid Anderson; Anna-Marie Holmes; William Forsythe; Crystal Pite; Wen Wei Wang; James Kudelka; Jeff Hyslop; and even Fred Penner!, are just some of the names that pop up in Suzanne’s stories.

16 just dance! | Winter 2016

“When I look back at my career I feel truly blessed,” Suzanne says. “I have met some amazing people and been places I never thought I would go.”

She seems to know everyone in the Canadian performing arts world, having either learned with or from them, performed or choreographed with them, or taught them, her connections are vast and diverse. But despite this, she herself is hardly a household name. In my opinion Suzanne is a great Canadian secret.

She has contributed to the arts as a performer, choreographer, teacher, and mentor influencing dozens and dozens of other performers along the way.

Her journey began in Burnaby, BC where she grew up. She took her first dance class at the age of two under the direction of Madame Lydia Karpova, a former Mariinsky Theatre Ballet dancer.

In a 1986 interview in Arts Vancouver magazine Suzanne spoke about what a big influence Madame Karpova was on her, crediting Karpova with giving her the love of dance. She spent many hours a week in a car as she commuted first to Mission, BC and then later to North Vancouver to attend classes with Madame Karpova. It was in Madame Karpova’s class that Suzanne also met Anna-Marie Ellerbeck.

Middle: David Cooper, bottom: Nicol Spinola

Suzanne performing in A Chorus Line.

n this issue of just dance!, it is with more than a little sadness and a great deal of appreciation that we say farewell to Suzanne Ouellette.

Suzanne has been contributing to just dance! for more than two years.

Fortunate for her, but not so much for just dance!, her schedule has simply become too demanding to continue to squeeze in time for us. So, for this issue we decided to turn the tables and have “Suzanne sit down with just dance!.”

Suzanne on the cover of Arts Vancouver in the mid-eighties.

Suzanne, in character as Judy Garland, on the cover of Ballet Canada.

full circle several years later for Suzanne.

When she was 13, Suzanne started training with Maria Lewis. Suzanne was one of the original dancers in Lewis’ first company Maria Lewis Dance Ensemble.

Lewis would go on to create Pacific Ballet Theatre (PBT) which eventually became Ballet BC, a connection that would come

When Suzanne was 17, she was invited by her old friend Anna-Marie, who was by then married to David Holmes, to take part in the summer production of Sleeping Beauty at the São Carlos Opera House in Lisbon, Portugal. From there, Suzanne moved to London where she landed a job at London Dance Studio (now Pineapple.) A short time later, Stuttgart Ballet came to London to hold auditions. Reid Anderson was a soloist with them; coincidentally Suzanne knew Anderson because she went to high school with his brother. Anderson encouraged her to audition and she joined the Stuttgart Ballet’s school apprentice class in 1975.

{ S u z a nne S its D o wn W it h } “It was quite the amazing experience,” Suzanne says. “There were only eight of us in the class. Here I was with these amazingly talented dancers wondering what I was doing there.” But she held her own and spent two and a half years there meeting and dancing with many stars like Mikhail Baryshnikov, Fernando Bujones, and William Forsythe.

Missing home, she eventually returned to Canada to attend the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School (RWBS). It was while at RWBS that she got her start in theatre. She took singing lessons and “fell in love with musical theatre.” She spent two summers performing with Winnipeg’s iconic Rainbow Stage, meeting and working with Fred Penner along the way.

But family and the West Coast beckoned.

She came back to the Greater Vancouver area feeling somewhat lost.

She wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. She considered film and television, but landed as a dancer with the PBT. Well, she was perhaps a bit more than just a dancer. It was a small company

Winter 2016 | just dance! 17

{ S u z a nne S its D o wn W it h } It is in this capacity Suzanne has perhaps had the greatest impact. When asked how she describes herself—as a dancer, performer, choreographer, or teacher— she thought for a moment, but then with a big grin says, “Definitely a teacher. I teach!

I can’t help but teach.” Adding that she is “very hands on.”

She spent 17 years at Richmond Academy of Dance which is where she met and taught Heather Ogden who Suzanne counts among her most successful students. “She has become a close friend. She was, is, an incredible dancer.”

first professional singing and dancing role at the Vancouver Playhouse in A Chorus Line, directed by Jeff Hyslop. “Definitely my favourite role,” says Suzanne, “as this iconic musical incorporates everything I love. The dance choreography was challenging, the lyrics and music are glorious, it has dramatic content, and a story that I feel part of. There is nothing as exciting as dancing your fanny off as well as opening your mouth to sing those words! One of the most challenging roles I have ever done too!”

Suzanne modelling for David Cooper in an Expo '86 photoshoot.

that required she wear more than one hat. She also fulfilled the roles of ballet mistress, lighting assistant, lecturer, and publicist, spending five years with the company.

It was with PBT that Suzanne performed one of her most memorable roles as Judy Garland in Forever Judy. Renald Rabu choreographed Forever Judy specifically for Suzanne; she was even featured on the cover of Ballet Canada magazine posing in character as Garland.

Since then Suzanne has had her hands (and feet) in everything around Greater Vancouver adding significantly to her résumé. On stage, she performed her 18 just dance! | Winter 2016

She also acted in a number television shows. And while acting she was also coaching and choreographing figure skaters, and she began teaching ballet at Douglas College in New Westminster, BC. Eventually she returned to PBT, by then Ballet BC (BBC), as their Ballet Mistress.

Ainslie Cyopik (AinslieWear), Crystal Pite (Kidd Pivot), and Wen Wei Wang (Wen Wei Dance), were among the dance heavy weights that she worked with as ballet mistress and rehearsal director.

During her five years at BBC she was also the founding director of the BBC Mentor Program under Artistic Director John Alleyne.

Along the way she met her now husband, actor David Adams, and they had two daughters. Her priorities shifted and it felt natural to try and work more regular hours and earn a steady income while raising her daughters, and as she put it she “sort of fell into teaching and choreography.”

Nicole Caron (Alberta Ballet) and Tara Williamson (BBC) are two of many other former students who have gone on to achieve professional success. Suzanne is proud that she has maintained a close relationship with many of her ex-students; one reason it was always so easy for her to find someone to interview for just dance!.

Suzanne spent time too, as rehearsal director with Jennifer Mascall Dance and MOVE: the company, and she was Artistic Associate for Annie and Oklahoma, and choreographed My Fair Lady for Royal City Musical Theatre. She was also Ballet Advisor on Billy Elliot for the Arts Club Theatre.

Currently Suzanne is sharing her skills, advice, and talent with students across BC. She is guest teaching and/ or choreographing for the Intensive Training Program at Harbour Dance Centre and The Landing Dance Centre in Vancouver, TriCity Dance Centre in Coquitlam, RNB Dance and ProArte Centre in North Vancouver, Northwest Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) in New Westminster, and Victoria Academy of Ballet in Victoria. She is also choreographing The Music Man for Richmond’s Gateway Theatre. In Spring 2017 she will be dramaturge on Heather Laura Gray’s new piece The Tunnel. “An exciting year for me,” she says.

After reading this I am sure it is easy for our readers to understand why Suzanne has no time to spare. But she promises to stay in touch. In the meantime we offer her a heartfelt thank you for her support of and enthusiasm for just dance!, and wish her continued success.

Top: Nicol Spinola, bottom: David Cooper

Suzanne bringing fun to rehearsal of Royal City Musical Theatre's My Fair Lady.

Encore Dance Academy Inspire. Challenge. Encourage.

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Winter 2016 | just dance! 19

Icy Cool Towel

This innovative towel from Upper Canada will cool you down instantly. The lightweight fabric stays cool for up to four hours with no refrigeration required.

Perfect for dance class!

Various colours and sizes available. Found at retail outlets across Canada. $10+

winter 2016

holiday gift guide

We went searching to find some affordable, fun, and functional holiday gift ideas for the dancer in your life. Happy shopping and holidays from all of us at just dance! magazine.

20 just dance! | Winter 2016

Fashion-Aid Roll-on Adhesive

A great stocking stuffer for every dancer! This translucent adhesive is hypoallergenic, non-staining, and water washable. It’s also flexible, allowing it to move with the skin instead of pulling on it. A super solution for keeping bodysuits and costumes in place. fashion-aid.com $12.99

Down Booties

Daniadown’s Down Booties are the perfect footwarmers for the dance studio and at home. They are lightweight and warm with a non-slip sole, and fully washable. Available in sizes small or large. daniadown.com $29.95

Grit Inc. Dance Bag

The tough and reliable Grit Hockey Tower™ has entered the dance world with The Dance Tower™. The 36” stand-up bag includes an interior hanging system that holds 10+ garments; collapsible exterior garment rack; removable front pocket; interior accessory and shoe pockets; removable kickstand; and a foldable frame. You can also add a mirror, shelf, and mesh bag to your Dance Tower™ Available through select retailers across Canada. gritinc.net $40+

S’ well Water Bottle

Every dancer needs a good water bottle. These beautifully crafted, environmentally friendly water bottles keep drinks cold for up to 24 hours, and hot for up to 12 hours. Three sizes and multiple designs available. swellbottle.com $32+

The En Pointe PortaBarre

™

Every dancer needs a portable barre! The PortaBarre is very strong and yet light weight. It assembles in seconds with an internal double button interlocking system and is perfect for your home or studio. It even comes with its own carrying case! Available in 3 sizes. en-pointe.com $295 to $495

C us t o m i z e i t!

Why not consider customizing clothes, shoes, bags, or accessories for a truly unique gift? Here a just a few options:

Customized Girl

At Customized Girl you can create and design your own clothing and accessories. Choose from thousands of items, from socks and shirts to hoodies and hats, and bags and bottles, then add your own text or images for a one-of-a-kind gift. No minimum orders. customizedgirl.com $15+

Custom Kicks The Crazy Dazy from Baggins Shoes For another original gift, Baggins Shoes offers custom printing on the iconic Converse Chuck Taylor Hi-Tops, LoTops, and Vans Classic Slip-Ons! Create a design from artwork, photos, or fan-inspired graphics! For more ideas and inspiration, check out images on Instagram @bagginsprintshop! bagginshoes.com/customized $55+

At The Crazy Dazy it doesn’t matter what your name is or how you spell it because they offer a complete line of dance duffels, garment and shoe bags, and backpacks that can be personalized just for you. Offering a huge selection of fonts and hundreds of products, there is something for everyone to love. thecrazydazy.com $20+

Winter 2016 | just dance! 21

meetthePro

Meet the Pro:

Kat

Stefankiewicz

22 just dance! | Winter 2016

By Lori Straus

I

{ m ee t t h e p r o } f you want to make it in dance, be prepared to move outside of your comfort zone, says NBA-TV and Raptors in-game host Kat Stefankiewicz.

A long-time student of the Burlington Dance Company in Burlington, Ontario (just outside of Toronto), a former member of the Canadian National Tap Team, and an avid athlete, (when she wasn’t in the dance studio, she was often on the baseball field, where she played competitively), Stefankiewicz knows all about the boundaries of her comfort zone.

When it comes time to leave the studio and move into the pre-professional and professional worlds of dance, challenging your limits and fears is a must. For Stefankiewicz, that challenge started with singing in front of audiences as part of her education at Toronto’s Sheridan College.

She started dance at six years old and spent her studio years at the Burlington Dance Company. She studied tap, jazz, and ballet, and hip hop was just making its entrance into the studio scene. But singing was new to her. “The vocal side of things was huge for me. It wasn’t my comfort zone at all: I went in as a dancer.

It was scary for three years,” she says.

But it wasn’t just the singing that was challenging, she adds. “You get used to the teachers that you grow up with,”

she says. “Here [at Sheridan College] you are being presented with new choreography, new styles that you have to be comfortable with all of the sudden.

It’s not comfortable at first,” she says.

2017 TOuR DATES

If you’re considering auditioning for a post-secondary program, Stefankiewicz advises to get training outside of your studio, for example taking open classes, if you have them in your city. You’ll also have an easier time at the audition if you’ve studied several forms of dance.

And if you’re going into musical theatre, you need to be a well-rounded performer.

Stefankiewicz’s first audition out of college (Sheridan College doesn’t allow its students to audition while they’re in the program) was for the Toronto Raptors Dance Pak, a gig she wasn’t sure she wanted. It was her mom who encouraged her to go, not so much for the opportunities the job could open for Stefankiewicz, but more for the chance to practice auditioning.

She did, however, make the cut and finally was in familiar territory: being a member of the Pak allowed her to combine her love for sports and dance.

She spent five years with the Pak. For three of those years she was dance captain. It was Stefankiewicz’s job to run through routines, conduct rehearsals

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NOVA DANCE CHALLENGE II

David Lopez (left), Getty Images (right)

May 18-21 | Camrose, AB

Stefankiewicz showing her love for her job with the Raptors Dance Pak.

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CATCHARISINGSTAR.CA Winter 2016 | just dance! 23

{ m ee t t h e p r o } when the coordinator (who’s also the choreographer) wasn’t available, and sometimes even stipulate which costumes to wear. The dancers must perform at every game, which means Stefankiewicz travelled a lot, too.

Kat at the Raptors 2016 Playoffs - Round 3.

Stefankiewicz performing with the Raptors Dance Pak.

It was a job she absolutely loved, but after five years she wanted to try something else. That’s when another opportunity came knocking, though she didn’t know that at the time. A camera crew from then Raptors TV asked to follow her around for a segment on the day in the life of the Raptors Dance Pak dance captain. She wasn’t aware that it was part mini-audition for a job as host, that she was ultimately offered. The job would again mix her love for sports and dance and once again threw her outside of her comfort zone.

She began her hosting career on a show called Raptorspace, which was a variety show for sports and served as a connection between the Raptors basketball team fans, players, and the game itself. The toughest part about the gig, though, was the improvisation: training in musical theatre leaves little room for your own material, but hosting, which is always live, needs you to think on your feet and improvise the entire time the camera is on you.

Stefankiewicz does often receive a script, but she doesn’t always use it. “They still laugh at me because I’m still the girl talking to myself in the corner running lines and stuff,” she says.

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“When you’re first getting into the professional world, take the opportunities that come to you. Go from there. There’s been a lot presented to me that wasn’t necessarily the way that I thought I would go,” she says.

Had Stefankiewicz remained within familiar territory, she would have turned down what has perhaps become the best opportunity for her at this point in her life: a job that lets her indulge in her love for sports and that grew out of her love for dance.

Light Imaging (top), Getty Images (bottom)

What she loves about hosting, though, is that she still gets what she calls that “live-show high.” Only, instead of it being in front of 2,000 or 4,000 people in a theatre, it’s in front of 20,000 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

Advice from Kat!

Coming to Vancouver ­ February 24! See dtrc.ca for full dates and locations.

“To start, accept the reality of the ride. You will be judged on your talent, your looks, your stage presence, and sometimes your lifestyle by people you know and people you don’t know and you will have to work hard at it all. If you’re okay with that, keep going.

I also encourage you to be multidimensional when it comes to styles of dance, which means putting energy and time into attending workshops and classes outside of your comfort zone(even vocal classes!). This could mean missing a birthday party or night out with your friends. If you’re okay with that, keep going.

With the harsh realities of the business, building confidence and being confident in yourself and your talent is a game changer, too. You need to believe in what you’re putting out there before other people will. A solid support system is key for fuelling your confidence and being there to tell you that you’re amazing on those hard days and to keep going. Do keep going.

Speaking from experience, to wake up and be able to do what you love for your so-called ‘job’ is a beautiful feeling that I wish upon everyone. Also, be happy for the success of others; it’s good karma.”

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www.OneDance.ca Winter 2016 | just dance! 25

informing, inspiring & celebrating young performing artists

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We’re Canada’s newest and fastest growing dance magazine #1 Canadian dance magazine on social media All Canadian Evergreen Content = Long Shelf Life Affordable Rates

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Contact info@justdancemagazine.com for more information and advertising rates.

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dancingdiversions

2016 Nutcracker Across Canada

History Image source: thecanadianencyclopedia.ca | Dance Definition Source: artsalive.ca | The Nutcracker image courtesy of Goh Ballet

Royal Winnipeg Ballet Queen Elizabeth Theatre | Vancouver, BC Various performances: Dec 8 to 11 balletbc.com Goh Ballet The Centre in Vancouver | Vancouver, BC Various performances: Dec 15 to 20 gohnutcracker.com Alberta Ballet Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium | Edmonton, AB Various performances: Dec 8 to 11 Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium | Calgary, AB Various performances: Dec 16 to 24 albertaballet50.com/2016-17-season/the-nutcracker

P n Yw ord L W S c r a m b lA e o Unscramble the letters to reveal the answers.

Hint: Recent Order of Canada

recipient for her “creative contributions as a ballet dancer and choreographer…”

MEmnloraiyl SCRAMBLE ANSWERS: Emily Molnar

Fraser Valley Academy of Dance Clark Theatre | Mission, BC | Dec 3 (two performances) Chilliwack Cultural Centre (with Chilliwack Symphony Orchestra) Chilliwack, BC | Dec 10 fvad.ca/calendar-events/events

nce How many da it teachers does e g take to chan a light bulb? seven, eight

Royal City Youth Ballet Greater Vancouver, Various Cities & Theatres Nov 22 to Dec 21 royalcityyouthballet.org

Dancing funny

Five, six,

Ballet Victoria Various Cities | Dec 2 to Dec 29 balletvictoria.ca

Answer:

Every year, theatres across Canada come alive with the music of Tchaikovsky and the enchanting tale of Clara and the Nutcracker. This year is no different. Here is a list of just some of The Nutcracker performances that will take place between mid-Nov and the end of the year. We hope many of you get the opportunity to enjoy this holiday classic.

This month in history

Brian Ronald McDonald died on November 29, 2014 in Stratford, Ontario. McDonald was a Canadian dancer, choreographer, and director. He joined the National Ballet of Canada in 1951, and in 1956 formed his own company, The Montreal Theatre Ballet.

He also worked with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. He was a recipient of the Order of Canada and the creator of 19 productions for the Stratford Festival. In a news article reporting his death, Globe and Mail reporter Deirdre Kelly described McDonald as, “An indefatigable spirit and towering presence in the Canadian arts scene…a true one-of-a-kind.”

Moscow Ballet Conexus Arts Centre | Regina, SK | Nov 19 TCU Place | Saskatoon, SK | Nov 20 nutcracker.com/buy-tickets/saskatchewan Royal Winnipeg Ballet Centennial Concert Hall | Winnipeg, MB Various performances: Dec 22 to Dec 30 rwb.org/whats-on/show/nutcracker Ballet Jörgen Canada Greater Toronto Area, Various Cities & Theatres Toronto, ON | Nov 18 to Dec 30 balletjorgencanada.ca/ index.cfm?pagepath=Events_Calendar&id=34430 National Ballet of Canada Four Seasons Centre | Toronto, ON Various performances: Dec 10 to Dec 31 toronto-theatre.com

dance Definition

Dance Fredericton Danse The Playhouse, Fredericton | Fredericton, NB Nov 26 & 27 theplayhouse.ca/event/the-nutcracker-2

(Org. French) In ballet, a slow section of a pas de deux, or an exercise in a dance class focusing on slow controlled movements that highlight balance and extension, and require strength and poise.

Adage:

Symphony Nova Scotia (with Halifax Dance & the Mermaid Theatre) Dalhousie Arts Centre | Halifax, NS Various performances: Dec 4 to 13 familyfuncanada.com/halifax/nutcracker IN THEATRES!!!

The Bolshoi Ballet Cineplex Events will be presenting The Bolshoi Ballet’s The Nutcracker in theatres across Canada on Dec 11 cineplex.com/Events/DanceSeries

Winter 2016 | just dance! 27

informing, inspiring & celebrating young performing artists

just dance! magazine showcases and supports talented young performing artists from across Canada. We are dedicated to creating a vibrant performing arts community and passionate about becoming the go-to resource for young performers by providing content that focuses on their needs and connecting them with resources in their communities.

JUST DANCE! READERS TELL US why they dance P. 17

STRENGTH CONDITIONING why it’s important for dancers

Fall 2016 | Vol. 5 | Issue

LEARN ABOUT THE

WEST COAST TAP DAN

Spring 2016 | Vol. IV | Issue III

1

CHOREOGRAPHING A CAREER PATH with our cover dancer...

Heather Laura Gray HY LEARN W ING RWB'S GO– TRUTH AR HOME ST NCILIATION AND RECO CANADA'S

STRENGTH CONDITIONING why it’s important for dancers

PRE-HABILITATION: WHAT IT IS + HOW IT CAN HELP YOU P. 29

s! DANCING PluDIVERSIONS P. 27

Spring 2015 | Vol. 3 |

Issue III

SPRING BREAK:

CAMPS, WORKSHOP S & INTENSIVES IN YOUR AREA P. 32

LAMONDANCE SET SAIL + IS GROOMING DANCE ON A CRUISE SHIP PROFESSIONALS & FUSING CULTURES WITH DANCE

ON THE COVER & IN THE SPOTLIGH

IS ONE OF T PORTAN MOST IM TS BALLE

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Balance: A mentally healthy you

by Heidi Turner Adolescence is a difficult time. As a teenager, you are generally expected to plan for your future while focusing on your present. You attend school and likely take part in a variety of activities—dance, sports, or school clubs, for example— designed to prepare you for adulthood, but that also require a lot of commitment.

At the same time, you’re going through a lot of adjustments, including physical, emotional, and hormonal changes. All this can put a lot of stress on you.

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) estimates that anywhere from 10 to 20 percent of Canadian youth are affected by a mental illness or disorder, and between 50 and 70 percent of mental illnesses occur before the age of 18. Despite those high numbers, only 20 percent of Canadian children receive the mental health services they desperately need. That might be one reason suicide is the second leading cause of death of 15- to 24-yearolds in BC, behind car accidents.

Part of the problem may be that teens and their families do not always recognize the signs or symptoms of mental health issues. And, if they do, they may not be aware of the resources available to them, or may worry they will face blame or judgment if they admit to needing help.

Below are just a few of the mental health problems you or a friend could face during adolescence. If you recognize these symptoms in yourself or someone you know, it’s important to seek help.

Depression The CMHA research indicates approximately five percent of male youth ages 12-19 and 12 percent of female youth ages 12-19 have experienced a major depressive episode. Because some moodiness and irritability is associated with being a teenager, serious conditions such as depression may be written off as just a phase or part of teenage development. But if left untreated, depression can result in risky behaviours, deeper depression, and suicide.

Balance Factors that lead to depression include an imbalance of brain chemicals, stressful events, hormonal changes, medical illnesses, certain medications, or a family history of depression. Signs that the issue is more serious than just being a phase—especially if they last longer than two weeks—include decreased performance at school; feeling sad, withdrawn, or irritable most of the time; lack of enthusiasm, especially for activities previously enjoyed; overreactions; feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness; sleeping longer than usual; suicidal thoughts or actions; and changes in regular patterns.

For more information about depression, or to find supportive resources, visit the Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre website: keltymentalhealth.ca.

Anxiety Anxiety is a response to a perceived danger or stressful event. Although in some cases it helps avoid life-threatening situations, too much anxiety can disrupt a teen’s life. The CMHA says anxiety disorders affect approximately six percent of children and youth.

AnxietyBC notes the signs anxiety is becoming a problem are when the person feels anxiety even when there is no real danger, when it happens frequently, when it is intense, and when it prevents the person from taking part in fun or important activities. Typically, a person experiencing anxiety will feel sudden, intense symptoms including shortness of breath, dizziness, tingling, and pounding heart.

For more information about anxiety, visit the AnxietyBC website: anxietybc.com.

Eating Disorders Although eating disorders are often linked to food intake, the disorders themselves involve unhealthy thoughts and patterns related to food, body shape, and weight.

The most recognized eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. Eating disorders may be difficult to recognize, but the Mayo Clinic website says there are red flags to watch out for:

• Skipping meals or eating in secret • Excessive focus on food • Use of dietary supplements or laxatives to help with weight loss • Extreme focus on exercise • Frequent talk about losing weight or being fat • Frequently going to the bathroom after eating Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre has more information on eating disorders at keltymentalhealth.ca.

Other Mental Health Issues Depression, anxiety, and eating disorders are not the only mental health issues to affect youth. Other issues include conduct disorder, psychosis, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. These disorders are all serious, can have a permanent effect on a teen’s development, and should be treated by a professional.

Treatment Treatment for mental health issues can involve counselling and/or medication, depending on the mental health problem and its severity. Among the types of counselling available are cognitivebehavioural therapy, family therapy, and interpersonal therapy. There are also a variety of support groups for teens that are dealing with a mental health issue.

Medications are typically used in children or youth who do not obtain benefit from counselling, or who cannot be treated in other ways.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call your local crisis line to talk to someone with advanced training in mental health issues and services. The CMHA’s website offers an abundance of resources as well as links to where you can find a CMHA office in your province: cmha.ca.

Winter 2016 | just dance! 29

ACADEMIES, SCHOOLS & STUDIOS All-4-Dance all-4-dance.com dancewtme2@gmail.com Cloverdale, BC Armstrong Dance armstrongdance.ca info@armstrongdance.ca 250 546 0308 Armstrong, BC Arts Umbrella artsumbrella.com info@artsumbrella.com 604 681 5268 x0 Vancouver, BC Boswell Dance Academy boswelldance.com info@ boswelldance.com 604 522 4424 New Westminster, BC DanceFX dancefxmapleridge.ca dancefxmapleridge@gmail.com 778 232 0868 Maple Ridge, BC

Defy Gravity Dance Company defygravitydance.com office@defygravitydance.com 604 294 4677 Richmond, BC Encore Dance Academy encoredanceacademy.ca office@encoredanceacademy.ca 604 468 7400 Port Coquitlam, BC Goh Ballet Academy gohballet.com admin@gohballet.com 604 872 4014 ext. 127 Vancouver, BC OneDance Creative Art Centre onedance.ca onedance@shaw.ca 604 987 8747 North Vancouver, BC

30 just dance! | Winter 2016

Star Talent startalentdancecompetitions.com Surrey, BC Pro ArtĂŠ Centre proartecentre.ca info@proarte.ca 604 984 ARTE (2783) North Vancouver, BC PULSE dance centre onthepulse.ca 604 474 3466 info@onthepulse.ca Port Coquitlam, BC Royal City Youth Ballet royalcityyouthballet.org rcyb@telus.net 604 521 7290 New Westminster, BC Victoria Academy of Ballet victoriaacademyofballet.com 250 590 6752 Victoria, BC

COMPETITIONs, Conventions & Workshops 5678 Showtime 5678showtime.com info@5678showtime.com 604 945 7469 Cadence Dance Finals cadencedancefinals.com info@cadencedancefinals.com Ontario Catch a Rising Star catcharisingstar.ca carol@catcharisingstar.ca 403 901 8925 The Hollywood Summer Tour thehollywoodsummertour.com info@thehollywoodsummertour.com 1 818 574 8365 Los Angeles, CA Northern Stars Dance Competition northernstarsdance.com info@northernstarsdance.com 905 901 2370 Oakville, ON Showtime Dance Promotions showtimedancepromotions.com info@ showtimedancepromotions.com 250 768 7202

Performing arts retailers & SUPPLIERS Abantu - The Place for Hair shopabantu.com info@abantu.com 1 800 615 9899 Vancouver, BC Ainsliewear ainsliewear.com orders@ainsliewear.com 1 855 310 4555 Avalon Dance Shop of Canada avalondance.ca info@avalondance.ca 604 874 2461 Vancouver, BC Baggins Shoes bagginsshoes.com 1 866 224 8257 (warehouse/online) 1 250 388 7022 (retail location) Victoria, BC danceCraft dancecraft.ca dancecraft@shaw.ca 604 590 1733 Surrey, BC En Pointe Enterprises en-pointe.com info@en-pointe.com 1 866 491 9019 Forever Dancewear foreverdancewear.com info@foreverdancewear.com 604 770 0703 North Vancouver, BC Jazz Ma Tazz Dance & Costume jazz-ma-tazz.com jazzma@telus.net Abbotsford: 604 855 9166 Maple Ridge: 604 466 0861

Photographers & Videographers Gemini Visuals geminivisuals.com info@geminivisuals.com 604 312 6330 Surrey, BC Laura Zeke Photography laurazeke.com info@laurazeke.com Vancouver, BC TMM Dance tmmdance.com hello@tmmdance.com 1 855 734 3556

Professional companies Ballet BC balletbc.com 604 732 5003 Vancouver, BC Ballet Victoria balletvictoria.ca info@balletvictoria.ca 250 380 6063 Victoria, BC

Services Dancer Transition Resource Centre (DTRC) dtrc.ca nationaloffice@dtrc.ca National Office: 416 595 5655 Toll-free: 1 800 667 0851 Vancouver Office: 604 899 0755 Dancin' at Sea dancinatsea.com 800 742 5053

Theatres Evergreen Cultural Centre evergreenculturalcentre.ca 604 927 6550 Coquitlam, BC

Visit our website for direct links to listings’ websites: justdancemagazine.com

Royal City Youth Ballet Company Society proudly presents, for the 28th season, the full length ballet, the Nutcracker.

The longest running Nutcracker ballet performance in Canada!

Don’t miss your opportunity to see this unique show that delights audiences of all ages.

Artistic Director, Camilla Fishwick-Kellogg

Abbotsford Arts Centre, Abbotsford Sunday, November 27 1:00 & 4:00 pm Tickets through the Act Box Office: 604-476-2787

Michael J. Fox Theatre, Burnaby Friday, December 2 7:00 pm Through Massey Theatre Box Office: 604-521-5050

The Act, Maple Ridge

Surrey Arts Centre, Surrey

Friday, December 9 7:00 pm Saturday, December 10 1:00 & 4:00 pm Sunday, December 11 1:00 & 4:00 pm Box Office: 604-501-5566

Cowichan Theatre, Duncan

Friday, December 16 7:00 pm Saturday, December 17 1:00 pm Box Office: 250-748-7529

Centennial Theatre, North Vancouver

Sunday, December 18 1:00 & 4:00 pm Box Office: 604-984-4484

Massey Theatre, New Westminster Monday, December 19 2:00 & 7:00 pm Box Office: 604-521-5050

Sunday, December 4 1:00 & 4:00 pm Box Office: 604-476-2787

For more information, please visit our website:

www.royalcityyouthballet.org Winter 2016 | just dance! 31

For hair that can keep up with your moves, dance on over to Abantu

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