Two young students with Judy Hogg’s Celtic Rhythm Dancers will be dancing their way to Ottawa to represent B.C. as they compete at the ScotDance Canada Championship Series this July.
Judy Hogg sent seven of her students to compete at this year’s Provincials, BC Closed Championships which were held in Port Coquitlam on May 24. With each of them putting their best foot forward they all placed, receiving at least one medal in their respective categories.
Breanne Smith (17) who competed in the 16 to under 18 category was awarded first runner up, while Cassidy Propp (14) who competed in the 14 to under 16 category received third runner up. They each received medals for placing in the four dances that make up the championship, as well as an overall trophy or plaque complemented by a cheque from the BC Highland Dance Association to help offset travel costs.
All the girls are riding the high, especially Smith and Propp who both get to bring their skills in highland dancing to the ScotDance Canada Championship Series which will be held at Ottawa's Shaw Centre from July 5 to 9.
"It’s been a tremendous amount of work to achieve these results, but this was the goal," said Breanne's mom Leah Smith. "These opportunities are amazing."
"The fact that I can inspire dancers to train and practice every day so diligently to reach their goals makes me so thankful that I’m their teacher," said Hogg. "It’s fantastic that they can reap the rewards of their efforts — me seeing their realization of this is one of the best parts. Highland dance is both very technical as well as physical and it’s a fine line to keep them in great shape with optimum stamina as well as uninjured. I couldn’t be prouder of Breanne and Cassidy.”
This is not either of the girl's first rodeo. Smith, who is in Grade 12 at Frances Kelsey Secondary, and Propp who is in Grade 9 at South Island Distance Education School (SIDES) both placed second runner up at last year’s provincials, giving them the opportunity to compete at the 2024 Canadian Championships, which were held in Kamloops.
Both Smith and Propp followed in their sisters' dance steps, and wanted to join in as soon as they were of age to do so. Smith, who has been dancing since she could walk, started at the age of three, while Propp, who admired her sister taking Highland lessons, started her journey at the age of six. While they both have competed on the east coast in Halfax and Montreal this will be their first time dancing in Ottawa. Both Smith and Propp feel honoured and consider it a privilege to represent the province.
Nearly 1,000 dancers from across the globe including Scotland, England, Australia, and the United States come to compete in the Open Competition in Dance, while the The Canadian Championship only sees representatives from each province.
"They compete against the best in the world in the open competition, and for this series will be competing against the best in Canada," said Smith. "The competition is hard but there is a lot of support amongst the dancers and a lot of friendships that are made. Even though it’s an individual sport, the dancers are very friendly and they really enjoy seeing each other."
“I hope that no matter what the outcome of the Canadian Championship is, both dancers remember that they have earned the right to represent B.C. and to compete with the best in Canada," said Hogg. "I would like them to not forget that all the hours of practice have brought them to this prestigious level. It is also my hope that they enjoy every single moment of the competition, both on and off the stage.”
