Young dancers shine at Brandon recital

More than 230 young performers took centre stage this weekend as the Brandon School of Dance celebrated its annual year-end recital, showcasing months of hard work, discipline and artistic growth.

Held over two days, the recital featured dancers as young as three years old performing before packed audiences at the theatre, with families, friends and community members filling the venue in support of the students.

Dance instructor Alida Tromp said the children practice for a whole year for the event.

“We celebrate their talent at the end of the school year through the recital,” she told the Sun.

The school has hosted the annual recital for more than three decades, and organizers say the event remains one of the highlights of the dance season.

This year also marked a period of change and growth for the school.

New instructor Beth Fedorov said several new programs and styles were introduced.

“For starters, it’s my first year here,” Fedorov told the Sun. “We have tried to introduce a few new styles.”

Among the additions were musical theatre classes combining singing, dancing and acting, as well as contemporary dance and more male-oriented instruction.

“We’re able to offer a wider range of teaching styles now,” Fedorov said. “The school hopes to expand those opportunities even further next year.”

The recital featured performers ranging from preschoolers to adults in their 20s, with instructors praising the students’ dedication and courage.

“We’re always so incredibly proud of our students,” Fedorov said. “It’s scary to go out there and perform with an audience watching, so the fact that they’re all getting up there from ages three and up is amazing.”

Instructors said the recital represents far more than simply learning choreography. Throughout the year, students train in flexibility, conditioning and strength while also developing confidence, teamwork and discipline.

Tromp said watching the children grow over the course of the season is one of the most rewarding parts of teaching.

“They always exceed our expectations,” she said. “Dance is such a disciplined art form, but we also want to instill the love of the art form in them.”

The school also emphasized the sense of community built around the performances, with students encouraging one another backstage and parents volunteering their time to help the large-scale production run smoothly.

“We cannot do this event without the help of our volunteer parents,” Tromp said. “We are very grateful.”

Beyond the recital, the school continues to expand its programming. Nearly 100 students are expected to participate in international dance examinations next month — one of the school’s largest entries to date.

For organizers, however, the biggest success remains seeing students gain confidence and joy through performance.

“It’s wonderful to see the support that we get within the community,” Tromp said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for the children to experience performing on a large stage in front of an audience.”

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