Erin Haluschak
Record Staff
Cassidy Chalk and Analie Oldale have a head start on their summer plans.
While travel is involved for the Comox Valley dancers, holidays aren’t part of the plan. Rather, the Triple Heat Dance Studio pair are using their summer to further their skills with separate camps — at the American Ballet Theatre in New York City and at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.
“I’m looking for more training, more experience with different teachers and do some choreography,” explains Chalk,13, who is heading to New York with her mom for five weeks beginning mid-June.
She has been dancing for 11 years in a variety of styles including jazz, modern dance and tap, but notes ballet is her passion.
Chalk sent a video audition to the school and received an email at the end of January telling her she was accepted to the school.
“They only accept a certain amount of international students,” she notes, and adds she would like a career in ballet or contemporary dance.
With four years of dance experience including ballet, jazz and musical theatre, Analie Oldale is spending one month of her summer with the world-renowned Royal Winnipeg Ballet following an audition in October in Nanaimo.
“I’m looking forward to learning new choreography and to get challenged by new teachers,” explains the 11-year-old dancer.
“I’m excited about new styles and seeing how they teach.”
Like her peer, Oldale sees dancing as a career, and notes attending Triple Heat is an outlet to explore her passion.
“(Dance) makes me feel good. When I come here after school I get to be free. It’s a comfort.”
Triple Heat Dance Academy directors are excited for their students’ opportunities.
“We want to applaud their accomplishments as in order to achieve such goals these dancers are training 16-20 hours per week along with achieving honour roll grades in their academic studies,” said Michelle Henly, owner and ballet director.
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