Nothing makes Abbie Roger happier than stepping onto the stage to dance and seeing the reaction on peopleB次元官网网址檚 faces.
Whether it be performing jazz at the Mary Winspear Theatre in Sidney or contemporary dance at the University of Victoria, entertaining audiences is when she comes alive.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 fun, itB次元官网网址檚 a good way to express myself and to make other people happy while performing. ItB次元官网网址檚 always nice to see smiles in the audience,B次元官网网址� said the Grade 12 Royal Bay student and a member of the schoolB次元官网网址檚 dance academy.
Roger has always been interested in dance, but never had the opportunity to take it up when she was young. It wasnB次元官网网址檛 until Grade 7, when she joined the dance academy at her middle school that she fell in love with it and transitioned to Royal BayB次元官网网址檚 dance academy when her entered the high school in Grade 9.
Not only has the dance academy allowed her to stay physically active over the last four years, but itB次元官网网址檚 helped her come out of her shell as well.
B次元官网网址淚 just didnB次元官网网址檛 really have that many friends, I was bullied a little bit through elementary school, so I was shy to talk to people. Having the close friends in the dance academy made it easier to make new friends,B次元官网网址� Roger said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e learned a lot about myself, to be responsible for myself and be independent B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檓 more outgoing now.B次元官网网址�
RELATED: Royal Bay Secondary dancers set to finish off successful year
Roger is one of 75 dancers with Royal BayB次元官网网址檚 dance academy, which started a few years ago. As part of the 80-minute class that meets daily, students learn a variety of dance genres such as jazz, lyrical, contemporary, ballet, tap, and hip hop. Students also go on field trips, visit the ballet, gain experience from guest instructors from its sister company, Boston Dance Collective in Victoria, and perform at festivals around Greater Victoria and on Salt Spring Island.
B次元官网网址淥ne of the main benefits is that they become part of a very tight knit group of students who get to know each other very well,B次元官网网址� academy director Leanne Harrington said. B次元官网网址淭ypically students will come in at the Grade 9 level, even if they donB次元官网网址檛 stay through to Grade 12, they build relationships within the school that are very solid and transfer to other parts of the school.B次元官网网址�
Registration for the junior and senior dance academies for the 2018/19 school year opens on Feb. 1 at 6 a.m. For the more serious dancers, auditions for the advanced level take place on Wednesday, Feb. 7 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the school (3500 Ryder Hesjedal Way). For more information visit .
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