A young Langley dancer popped and locked his way to the top of the podium at the recent Vancouver Teen Fest Talent Show.
Albert Saguil a 16-year-old, Grade 11 student in R.E. Mountain’s International Baccalaureate program, earned first place and a $250 prize after competing in the festival at David Lam Park on June 6.
Normally, when Albert performs, he dances a choreographed routine, but this time out he opted to freestyle.
“I just made it up as I went,” he said.
“I felt good about it — to dance in front of a bunch of people and find out I won doing something I didn’t practice.”
Albert was one of only two dancers in a field of competitors that was made up largely of singers.
Mostly self-taught, the teenager began taking dance lessons at the beginning of this school year.
He’d previously competed at Cloverdale Teen Fest — where he was a finalist — and in Abbotsford, where he placed second.
But for the Langley teen, who hopes to one day become either a physiotherapist or chiropractor, dance isn’t really about prizes or recognition.
“I like to dance. I like to make people happy,” he said.
“It’s about expression. (Through dance) I express happiness and joy.”
