Even though she’s only seven, Remy Hinz seems pretty cool and calm about the eyes of the province being focused on her next month.
The Grade 2 student at James Hill Elementary will be the youngest dancer taking part in the BC Summer Games opening and closing ceremonies in Abbotsford.
Remy is not only the youngest performer, she’s also being featured in the opening ceremony with choreography by Lineke VanKleek.
She’ll be doing a solo part within a large group during the opening ceremonies. She’ll be doing a solo part within a large group during the opening ceremonies.
For the closing ceremonies, Remy will be among a large group.
The opening ceremony is July 21 and the closing is July 24, both at the Abbotsford Entertainment Centre.
The opening ceremonies are expected to draw between 3,000 and 4,000 athletes, coaches, officials, and spectators.
More than a dozen specialty/group acts auditioned for the presentation, and Remy was among a select few who made the grade.
Remy’s dancing ability is passed on by her mom Tamiko, an instructor with Lisa’s School of Dance in Langley.
Remy wasn’t actually old enough to audition as a performer, but an exception was made for her to try out as a specialty act.
Asked about the audition, Remy said, “I was only a tiny bit nervous.”
(Read more below)
Mom, however, knew the pressure was on. “This was the biggest audition she’s ever done,” Tamiko said.
Remy said she’s “in the spirit of the Games, with the motto ‘Rise Above and Reach Beyond.’”
Tamiko said this will be a great learning experience for her daughter.
“For Remy being so young, she’s a really dedicated performer and works really, really hard. It’s a great chance for her, not only as a performer but to learn as an experience in life. She will have to audition for jobs so she has to get comfortable with the idea of putting herself out there.”
The routine Remy will be doing is ‘acro’ mixed with contemporary dance. After her successful audition for the opening ceremonies, she was asked to re-audition for the closing ceremonies and was accepted for that, as well.
Remy, who says she “wants to be a pro dancer,” is already seasoned. She started dancing when she was three years old and currently trains about nine hours a week, taking classes in acro, acro tech, contortion, tumbling, ballet and ballet tech, musical theater, and lyrical.
She also has two private lessons a week for her solos.
Remy’s dad Rob (who is Remy’s “No. 1 fan,” noted Tamiko) along with Tamiko are proud of their daughter.
“She works so incredibly hard and for her to see that hard work and dedication create things that can come from it, it’s great for her to set a goal and see it through to the end,” Tamiko said.
