As the adorable 18-month-old dancing cheerleaders pranced onto stage, parents, grandparents and family applauded what would be the culmination of a season of dance for the toddlers.
Though the show delayed here and there as young children balked or needed potty breaks, the audience didn't seem to mind as Danceology's youngest prancers danced their hearts out.
Rhonda McCulloch-Gillrie, instructor with Danceology, said some technical difficulties with the microphone made things interesting, but otherwise the show went without any major hitches.
The sold-out performance on Saturday, March 28 had every seat in the Performing Arts Centre filled, with some parents lining the upper walkway railing.
The show was an end-of-season celebration for the pre-competitive dancers who, after this performance, would find their dancing season over for the summer. Competitive dancers finish in early May, McCulloch-Gillrie noted.
Though the show was almost all pre-competitive dancers, some of the older dancers took to the stage, peppered here-and-there throughout the young acts, not only to give the little dancers a break but also so parents and grandparents could see what their little dancers could grow up to become.
“These children dance because they love it,” McCulloch-Gillrie said. “And the show is a nice way to thank parents and grandparents for their support throughout the year.”
And the families certainly seemed to enjoy the various acts, whether it was the tap-dancing slowpokes, the hip-hop ninja turtles, or the 18-month olds cheerleading away.
It's been a strong year for the dance studio, with competitive dancers having a strong year. At the recent Catch a Rising Star competition, three routines had highest marks in their field – lyrical, ballet and contemporary. One of those best marked dancers, Grace Wu, is an exchange student.
Later in the evening on Saturday, the older competitive students had a “special projects” performance, where soloists and small groups were able to dance for their families and friends. The competitive students will wrap up their season in the next few weeks.