Comox Valley dancers qualify for provincials

See all the Triple Heat Academy of Performing Arts members at the year-end festival

The BC Festival of Performing Arts will welcome top performers from around B.C. this spring for the provincial competition.

Sydney Tupper, Madison Kunz, Sara Stephens, Jimmy Hampshire and Megan Welsh, from Triple Heat Academy of Performing Arts, have all been chosen to attend.

“Over 30,000 students in various arts disciplines compete in 34 different regional festivals for the honour to attend provincials,” said Tamara Ryan-Telford, who co-owns Triple Heat with partners Michelle Henly and Livea Gill Harding. “So we are incredibly proud of these students for this noteworthy accomplishment.”

“This has been a fantastic year for our studio,” added Henly, director of ballet. “We have also had a strong showing at several prestigious dance competitions and have received some very distinguished awards.”

Triple Heat will present its year-end showcases, Abstract People, May 23-26 at the Sid Williams Theatre. The showcases will include performances by provincial soloists, award-winning groups, and the general program.

Abstract People is a celebration of the creative passion that lives inside all these beautiful young dancers that we are so privileged to work with,” said Harding. “Their commitment and dedication to their art inspires us and we can’t wait to show everyone what they can do.”

Abstract People brings you jazz, ballet, tap, musical theatre, contemporary, and hip hop. It will draw you in like a magnet and captivate you with the intensity of the creative fire that burns inside these young dancers.

The program schedule is as follows:

Solo Showcase: Thursday, May 23, 7 p.m., entry by donation.

Showcase 1: Friday, May 24, 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 25, 1 p.m.

Showcase 2: Saturday, May 25, 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 26 at 1 p.m.

Tickets for Showcase 1 and 2 are on sale at the Sid Williams Theatre.

For more information, contact Triple Heat Academy at 250.338.1313 or www.tripleheatdance.com

Comox Valley Record