May 18th, 2022, 7pm,
River Run Centre
We are proud to present Guelph Youth Dance Company pieces from Apprentice I, Apprentice II, Young Company and GYD Company repertoire.
Apprentice I Company
Sentimental Elements
Choreographer: Lindsay Roe
Dancers: Olivia Dube-Goss, Nemea Giddings, Claire Gomes, Audrey Keller, Samantha Ribeiro, Maelle Stephenson, Luna Williams
Music: Her Disappearing Theme, Broken Social Scene, Again Again Again Again- Bocce
Assistant: Azalea Borges
Young Company
In the Wind
It’s almost as if patterns and movement in nature so fluidly emulate life’s emotions.
Choreographer: Haley Dimeck
Dancers: Jillian Alac, Sasha Baldwin, Zoey Browne, Alexandra de Jong, Taylor Grace GillOrme, Audrey Lawson, Chloe LeBlanc, Molly Linder, Maddy Major McRonald, Quinn Stewart, Kate Thompson, Katy Thomson-Bayne, Audrey Withers
Music: Plan & Elevation: IV and V by Caroline Shaw, Attacca Quartet
Assistant: Meagan Pitts
Thank you to the dancers and GYD for this creative opportunity, and to Meghan for being a fantastic rehearsal assistant!
GYD Red Company
Darling
In this piece we worked on connections to each other and to our own self, with the theme of togetherness threaded through the whole choreography.
Choreographer: Katie Ewald
Dancers: Emelia Gillespie, Sylvie Graves, Theadora Gray Lamont, Ruby Keegan, Iris Moers, Sophie Richard, Audrey Richardson, Kira Thompson, Kaiya Wohlgemut
Music: Darling by Beautiful Chorus
Initially I started working with this group in the winter of 2020 before everything changed. When we met again they had evolved as people and artists, so we had to shift the dance as well. Thank you Red company. You are such unique and smart dancers with a lot of passion and moxie!!
GYD Blue Company
So We Dance
This choreography is a tribute to the power and force of their generation, and for the future that we are fighting for that they all deserve.
Choreographer: Katie Ewald
Dancers: Azalea Borges, Marissa Chung, Sadie Clark, Sarah Cook-Cumming, Luka Hazl, Cybelle LeBlanc, Katherine Phippen, Meagan Pitts, Isabel Segal-Grossman
Music: Alors On Danse by Stromae with text by Greta Thunberg at the 2019 UN climate action summit; Mixed by Bry Webb
It has been an honour to work with this amazing group of dancers. I am inspired by their work ethic and collaboration skills – they truly take care of each other.
Apprentice II Company
Evergreen
Choreographer: Julia Cosentino
Dancers: Alvy Cope, Aveline Gray Bedard, Hazel Lawr, Ayana Morton, Ella Osborne, Maia Schneider-Fields, Abigail Turner-Steffer, Talia Vigers, Maren Wegner
Music: Tree by Olafur Arnalds
GYD Red Company
Pleader
Choreographer: Megan Robinson
Dancers: Emelia Gillespie, Sylvie Graves, Theadora Gray Lamont, Ruby Keegan, Iris Moers, Sophie Richard, Audrey Richardson, Kira Thompson, Kaiya Wohlgemut
Music: Pleader by AltJ
Apprentice I Company
Uplift
The Apprentice I company brainstormed ideas that uplift them and what makes them happy in life. Bright colours, friends and family and nature were some of the ideas brought up. We wanted to capture these ideas, to focus on positives in today’s society and to highlight their creativity. The piece was a collaboration that brought their individual ideas together with our vision.
Choreographers: Sadie Clark and Katherine Phippen
Dancers: Olivia Dube-Goss, Nemea Giddings, Claire Gomes, Audrey Keller, Samantha Ribeiro, Maelle Stephenson, Luna Williams
Music: Weight of living. Pt by Bastille.
Graduation Piece
Signs of Us
Choreographer: Kelly Steadman
Dancers: Azalea Borges, Sadie Clark, Luka Hazl, Cybelle LeBlanc, Katherine Phippen, Meagan Pitts, Isabel Segal-Grossman
Music : Aurora by: Alva Noto and Ryuichi Sakamoto
Young Company
Kaleidoscope (2015)
Choreographer: Janet Johnson
Dancers: Jillian Alac, Sasha Baldwin, Zoey Browne, Alexandra de Jong, Taylor Grace GillOrme, Audrey Lawson, Chloe LeBlanc, Molly Linder, Maddy Major McRonald, Quinn Stewart, Kate Thompson, Katy Thomson-Bayne, Audrey Withers
Assistant: Meagan Pitts (Thank you Meagan!!!)
Music: Fitzpleasure by AltJ
GYD Red Company
Uprising
Inspired by the uniting of different energies to become more powerful as a collective.
Choreographer: Haley Dimeck
Dancers: Emelia Gillespie, Theadora Gray Lamont, Ruby Keegan, Iris Moers, Sophie Richard, Audrey Richardson, Kira Thompson, Kaiya Wohlgemut
Music: Aen Seidhe by Mikolai Stroinski
Thank you to the dancers and GYD for the wonderful opportunity to explore together.
GYD Blue Company
Astral Plane
Choreographer: Meghan McNeil
Dancers: Azalea Borges, Marissa Chung, Sadie Clark, Sarah Cook-Cumming, Luka Hazl, Cybelle LeBlanc, Katherine Phippen, Meagan Pitts, Isabel Segal-Grossman
Music: Interlude I by Prefuse 73, Jessica, Mizuha Nakagawa, String Quarted No. 3 (Mishima) by Philip Glass and Kronos Quartet.
Apprentice II Company
Closed Captioning
Choreographer: Lindsay Roe
Dancers: Alvy Cope, Aveline Gray Bedard, Hazel Lawr, Ayana Morton, Ella Osborne, Maia Schneider-Fields, Abigail Turner-Steffer, Talia Vigers, Maren Wegner
Music: Cusp Slim Volume Remix by Bry Webb
Assistant: Isabel Segal-Grossman
GYD Red and Blue Company
Pale Blue Dot (2019)
It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no greater demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever known. (Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot, 1994).
Choreographer: Janet Johnson
Dancers: Azalea Borges, Marissa Chung, Sadie Clark, Sarah Cook-Cumming, Emelia Gillespie, Sylvie Graves, Luka Hazl, Ruby Keegan, Cybelle LeBlanc, Chloe LeBlanc, Iris Moers, Katherine Phippen, Meagan Pitts, Sophie Richard, Audrey Richardson, Isabel Segal-Grossman, Kira Thompson, Kaiya Wohlgemut.
Assistant: Haley Dimeck (Thank you Haley!!)
Music: Possible by Zoe Keating
OUR GRADUATES
Azalea Borges
I’ve been dancing at GYD since I was little and I’ve pretty much grown up with the studio. Dance has always been an amazing creative outlet for me throughout my life and deciding to make dance a major part of my life was probably one of the best decisions of my life. I could have danced at any studio but no other studio could have given me the sense of family we have here at GYD, a family that I will miss dearly. Through GYD I have learned so so much priceless lessons not only regarding dance from my amazing teachers. When I think about being a dancer with GYD I can’t help but think how lucky I am, I have met my best life long friends here and I would not trade my dance career with GYD for the world.
Sadie Clark
I grew up at GYD, and I want to thank everyone who has been part of this life-changing experience. Dance became my escape and my passion through middle school and in high school, it helped me get through the various lockdowns. It is such a welcoming and inclusive environment where I can come to express myself through movement. Ever since I was 9 years old, I remember looking up to the grads and wanting to be like them. And now, I am one of them – I hope that I can inspire the up-and-comers! I have made lifelong friends and family through this experience; it wasn’t just the dancing that changed my life. I am going to miss GYD so much, but I am excited to come back and see how this studio grows in the next few years. I want to say a HUGE thank you to Janet, Catrina and Kelly for their incredible influence, dedication, and inspiration. Much love, xoxox Sadie
Luka Hazl
Growing up in this company has been such a pleasure. The last fourteen years of my life have been with GYD and it’s crazy to think I am graduating this year. The creative skills I have developed from this studio I know will serve me for a long long time. I am so thankful for this studio, my teachers and mentors, the friendships I’ve made and the experiences I’ve had. I can’t wait to see what’s to come next but I’ll be forever grateful for this part of my life. I loved growing up with dance.
Cybelle LeBlanc
Guelph Youth Dance has made such a huge impact on my childhood, career as an artist and as a person. I am so thankful I was a part of this community. Although I am not continuing dance in my main studies during post secondary, it will always be such a big part of me and stay very close to my heart. Growing up at GYD was constantly inspiring me, teaching me and others to give kindness and have a passion for the arts. I will carry this on in my next adventures. Lots of love to this beautiful school. I won’t ever forget it’s beautiful views from the studio windows, that I sometimes got completely distracted with it’s beauty! – Cybelle Le Blanc
Meagan Pitts
Dance has been such a big part of my life for all my childhood and teen years. It’s given me so much joy and skills that I can apply to every aspect of my life. My teachers and friends have always supported me and I am so grateful I was able to have a connection with all of them. Moving forward so many things are uncertain but I am always ready for a challenge. I’m beyond thankful to GYD for giving me the space to grow and create so many amazing memories.
Katherine Phippen
I’ve been dancing at GYD since I was 9 years old and the community and friends I have made here have had such a lasting impact on me. Guelph Youth Dance is somewhere everyone can feel safe and welcome while having the opportunity to express themselves. I’ve been given so many opportunities within the community and even globally while dancing here, and I am incredibly grateful for everything I have learned inside and outside of the studio. The company is like a family to me and I am proud to have grown up dancing here. It’s exciting to be entering a new chapter but I’m looking forward to coming back to visit.
Isabel Segal-Grossman
Guelph youth dance has been a second home to me for about 10 years, and it has helped me discover so much about myself, and dance. Dance has a way of moving emotions from my head, to the rest of my body and out of me through movement. It is my fuel. Dancing at GYD has been a big part of my life, and I am so grateful for it and thankful for all the incredible teachers and people I’ve met.
