Salish Secondary School in Surrey is once again hosted Level Up, the biggest high school dance competition in B.C.
The third annual event was held April 9 in the school’s gym.
More than 700 students from schools across Surrey, the Lower Mainland, and Vancouver Island attended the dance showcase.
“The event was amazing,” Jenny-Lynn Jensen told the Cloverdale Reporter. Jensen is a teacher at Salish Secondary and the head of the dance program there. “The gym was electric with the energy from the dancers.”
Jensen created Level Up in 2022. Coming out of the pandemic, she “saw a need” for an event that would bring the students in the province together to build community through dance. She said the event has been getting bigger and better every year.
She noted some highlights from this year’s incarnation included special guest showcase performances from: Harbour Dance Centre’s “ITP,” Studio North’s “Youngside”, A3 District’s “EP Ryderz,” and Fusion Force Studio.
“Surrey School Trustee Laurae McNally was in attendance to show her support and love of the performing arts,” Jensen added.
As always, the event is student organized and run under the leadership of the Salish Secondary Dance Program and the guidance of Jensen.
“Our student volunteers worked all day and evening setting up and running this event,” she explained.
Jensen said Salish Dance received very positive feedback on this year’s event, mainly that the kids were having a lot of fun at the competition.
“They loved watching all the teams from around the province and cheering them on,” she added. “All the teams were grateful to be there and share their passion for dance with one another.”
Jensen also said Level Up Dance Events couldn’t run the contest without help from both the Cloverdale community and the dance community.
“Thank you to our generous local sponsors for donating dance class passes, workshops, and media coverage, Studio North, Harbour Dance, Fusion Force, and VANCT.”
Level Up high school dance team competition award winners for 2024 were:
Junior Hip Hop Team
1st: Sullivan Heights
2nd: North Surrey Secondary
3rd: Gladstone Secondary
Senior Hip Hop Team
1st: LA Matheson
2nd: Sullivan Heights
3rd: Panorama Ridge
Jazz Dance Team
1st: Spectrum Community School
2nd: Salish Secondary
Jazz Dance Team – Student Choreographed
1st: Lord Tweedsmuir
2nd: Sullivan Heights
Contemporary Dance Team – Student Choreography
1st: Lord Tweedsmuir
2nd: Kwantlen Park
3rd: Salish Secondary
Contemporary Dance Team
1st: Spectrum Community School
2nd: North Surrey
Junior Hip Hop Team – Student Choreographed
1st: Johnston Heights
2nd: Fraser Heights
3rd: Salish Secondary
Senior Hip Hop Team – Student Choreographed
1st: Johnston Heights
2nd: Grandview Heights
3rd: Langley Secondary
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