A gala at Massey Theatre this weekend will help send Canada's best young dancers to Europe.
The Gala for Gold fundraiser is tonight (Friday, Nov. 29) at 7 p.m., and it includes dance performances along with silent and live auctions.
Team Canada dancers are off to the International Dance Organization's world championships in December.
In their ranks will be six dancers from Douglas Ballet Academy. Erin Carpentier and Jaydene Searle are off to the world tap championships, Dec. 1 to 8 in Germany. Caroline Kiddie, Emily Wismer, Jenny Lian and Morgan Bringeland-Powell are heading to Poland for the ballet, jazz and modern worlds Dec. 7 to 15.
The Team Canada dancers were chosen after a rigorous audition process that brought together the best dancers from across the country. A press release notes that Canadian dancers are known to be some of the best in the world, with several world titles to the country's credit.
This year's team is headed by choreographer's Danielle Gardner, of So You Think You Can Dance Canada, and Joshua Beamish of Move: The Company.
"They have high hopes of making it to the podium and making Canada proud," the release says.
But getting the dancers to Europe isn't easy.
"Dance is not recognized in Canada as a sporting event, even though many of these dancers train up to seven days per week, they are as flexible as any gymnast, as graceful as figure skaters and as dedicated as any Olympic athlete," the release notes.
That means the dancers must cover their own costs, which amount to about $4,000 per dancer. They've been fundraising since the summer to raise the money.
Gala For Gold tickets are $21.95. Buy through www.masseytheatre.com or call 604-521-5050.
For more on the local dancers' journey to the ballet, jazz and modern worlds, check out their website at www.fourdancersonedream.com. You can also find out more at www.facebook.com/TeamCanadaWestDance.
