04/28/2026
Whew! We did! Another Recital in the books!
Thank you again to everyone in the audience that came out on Sunday to support our dancers, you are a big part of the reason why we keep dancing, because we want to share our love of dancing with you. And thank you to all the dance families and friends that support these dancers, and giving them the opportunity to dance. I would not be here if it wasn’t for all the faithful moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, family and friends, that continually bring your dancers out to me for their dance classes and be able to put on a show like this. I know that these dancers would not be able to do this without your support, all the driving back and forth, making sure they have their dance clothes, shoes, and snacks, and most importantly your words of encouragement to keep going when things get hard. I am also super grateful and awed by how much this dance program grown in the past five years, and that is all because of you!
Thank you to Gold Pan City Dance in Quesnel. They are unfortunately closing this year, and we were able to purchase some costume sets from them to use for this Recital and hopefully many more to come. As they are my hometown studio, I am thankful for all the wonderful years I had there, and all the lessons and knowledge they passed on to me to get me where I am today.
Thank you to the Gitanmaax Band Office for you very generous donation towards purchasing dance costumes for our Sr. Novice Modern class. This session, I had 10 Sr. Novice Modern dancers sign up, and this class has worked very hard and are very enthusiastic when it comes to this class. I thought this year, that they would be the ones this time to deserve some new costumes.
Thanks to the Bulkley Valley Credit Union for assisting with funding needed for our Competitive Dancers’ Bakesale, as well as letting us use their popcorn machine for popcorn sales. They are raising funds for their competitive team entry fees and costumes.
Next I would like to thank Freyja Barnwell for taking photos again for this Recital. I am glad that I have you as my loyal photographer for our recitals. I always look forward to your amazing photos. She will also have her photos available for sale as well! Once she has them available online, I will be able to share a gallery link that you can browse and purchase your professionally edited digital copies or prints!
Thank you to Geraco, for your donation towards fabric and materials towards some more handmade costumes, and also purchasing some iconic costumes for us. They pretty much sponsored the entire Super Mario Hip Hop 2 dance as well as the Hogwarts Legacy Sr. Novice Ballet dance! Thank you to Melissa for your time and hard work into making our Acro 1 costumes, fixing up dozens of costumes, making gloves, and your arts and crafts! You have become part of the loyal Evolutions Dance Studio Parent Crew, and I am so happy to have you!
Thank you to Bob Burns from Gitanmaax Band Office as well for providing us with some more seating for the audience. Our shows keep getting bigger and bigger, and we are finding more chairs are needed than what we have available.
Thank you to my Preschool Assistant, Miss Morgan, for helping out with my little kids practices. She is an amazing role model for my young ones, and a great asset to these classes.
Lastly, thank you to Clary, Savana, Jake, Dillon, Keenan, Donovin, Olivia, and all the other youth staff (Sophia, Peyton, Autumn, Alia, Teagan, Serena) here at the Upper Skeena Recreation Centre, we would not be able to make this Dance Recital and our dance classes happen here in Hazelton without you. I am so grateful to you all for giving me the opportunity to run this dance program and put on dance recitals like this.
Next, I would like to recognize some dancers that went above and beyond this year.
Competitive Team
First I would like to recognize my competitive team. This year, I had 23 dancers join my competitive team, where they all received solos, duos, and group choreography to perform at our recitals, at our Smithers Showcase, and traveled to 3 or 4 different dance festivals this year. We had our dancers perform at the Prince George Dance Festival, Quesnel Dance Festival, the Pacific Northwest Music Festival in Terrace, and the B.C. Annual Dance Competition in Prince Rupert. Actually, we haven’t been to Prince Rupert yet, we are travelling there next weekend! For some of these dancers, this was their first year getting solos and travelling to these competitions, and they have all learned so much from the adjudicators. And for my dancers where this is their second year or more, they have all improved so much, and I am incredibly proud of each of them.
Mckinley Groves
Piper Johns
Shyanne Noordhof
Ursa Koch De Maio
Mariah Hucul
Meja Barnwell
Lily Zoller
Maria Zoller
Hazel Zoller
Izzy Giguere
Leela Heit
Elawren Thomas
Philo Lalonde
Francie Munro
Ava O’Brien
Sophia Lobban
Amelie Fraenkel
Amelia Jack
Tovi Mackenzie
Tejmeen Tomlinson
Kaylee Letendre
I would like to announce and congratulate a few of these dancers even more:
Kaylee received 3rd place for her Ballet solo in Prince George
Kaylee and Amelia tied for 3rd place for their Ballet solos in Terrace
Shyanne received 3rd place for her Tap solo in Prince George
Mckinley received 3rd place for her Modern solo in Prince George
Piper received 3rd place for her Modern Musical Interpretation in Terrace
Advanced Lyrical Group “Read All About It” received 3rd place in Terrace
Zoller Sisters Jazz Trio “Rather Be” received 3rd place in Terrace
Mckinley and Piper received 2nd place for their Contemporary Duo in Prince George and Terrace
Mckinley received 2nd place for her Modern Musical Interpretation in Terrace
Francie received 2nd place for her Demi Character solo in Terrace
Shyanne received 2nd place for her Tap solo in Terrace
Mckinley received 2nd place for her Variety solo in Terrace
Mariah and Ursa received 2nd place for their Jazz Duo in Terrace
Sr. Novice Lyrical Group “Run Towards The Roar” received 2nd place in Terrace
Mckinley received 1st place for her Variety solo in Prince George
Kaylee received 1st place for her Ballet solo in Quesnel
Advanced Modern “Hit The Road” received 1st place in Terrace
Advanced Modern “Hit The Road” received 1st place and the 18 and under overall Modern Duo/Group Trophy in Prince George
Piper was selected as a Merited Participant in the Stage 3 Division for Provincials from Terrace!
The BC Performing Arts Provincials has Competitors and Merited Participants from all over the province compete in the Stage Arts of Vocal, Dance, Speech Arts, and Music, and I am delighted that Piper was selected once again for this opportunity. This year, Provincials will be held in Prince George! Awesome job Piper!
And amazing job to all of my competitive team this year! You all worked so hard, and I am so proud of each of you! We still have one more comp to go in Prince Rupert and I know that each of you will do your best out there!
Triple Threat Award
The first of my awards was the Triple Threat Award. This is an award for dancers that take 3 or more different styles of dance with me. By taking all these classes, these students have really grown as dancers.
Guiliana Coukell
Kaylee Letendre
Freyja Fitchett
Tejmeen Tomlinson
Amelia Jack
Leia Marshall
Tovi Mackenzie
Wilder Bright
Hansten Bright
Izzy Giguere
Leela Heit
Ailsa Yunkws
Amelie Fraenkel
Elawren Thomas
Sophia Lobban
Mariah Hucul
Ursa Koch De Maio
Shyanne Noordhof
Piper Johns
Mckinley Groves
Most Improved Dance Award
The next award I handed out is my Most Improved Dancer Award. These dancers have all improved in some way this year, whether it be technique, confidence, or work ethic, or in remembering choreography. I have chosen one or two dancers from each level for this award.
Bexley Clubbe
Barrett Schaber
Sawyer Wolfenden
Elodie Hilbach
Finya Dilks
Amber Harris
Izzy Giguere
Ailsa Yunkws
Ursa Koch De Maio
Dancemanship Award
Next up I had what I am calling the Dancemanship Award, just like the sportsmanship award, but for dance! I have seen these dancers cheer on their dancemates, are happy to be at dance, and encourage themselves and others to always do their best. They are amazing teammates, and really focus on contributing to the class and team. Again I have chosen one or two dancers from each level for this award.
Scarlett Racy
Caitlin Jones
Aria Hilbach
Nula Yunkws
Sophia Lobban
Elawren Thomas
Piper Johns
Shyanne Noordhof
Dedicated Dancer Award
The next award is the Dedicated Dancer Award. This award is important to me, as I really value a good work ethic, positive attitude and love of dance. Just because a dancer has natural talent, does not necessarily mean they are a good dancer. They need to work hard, and really be dedicated to dance to earn this award.
Marshall Dugan
Juniper Webb
Bailey Morgan
Savannah Dworak Ho
Myla Cote
Kat Sebastian
Talia Forsyth
Philo Lalonde
Leela Heit
Morgan Toodlican
Mckinley Groves
Dance Mom Award
I had another extra award this year, because I really wanted to acknowledge another amazing mom. Margo Groves got it last year, and even though she is still amazing and would deserve this award every year, I gotta acknowledge another Dance Mom. Now, don’t get me wrong, all of the dance parents I have are amazing, and all of you show me how supportive you are for your dancers and for me, and I am grateful I do not have any crazy dance moms in my mix. (Yet) But this dance mom has gone the extra mile. Every time she brings her kids to dance class, all the siblings that are waiting around know to go to her for arts and crafts in the lobby, or even some small snacks. She keeps the siblings and other kids busy so that the dancers can focus on their class. Whenever I have events going on for Evolutions, she and her family are always the last ones to leave, as they, without asking, will just start helping with tidying things up and cleaning. Many people always ask if I need help, and I always say no, because really, you should all just go home and get your kids to bed after a long recital day. But she will just stay with me, and make sure that I am leaving too before she goes.
This is also a personal thank you to her as well. She has always been there for me and my family, and helped me personally when I needed her to watch the baby, or give Kaylee a ride home after dance.
She is so supportive of her two kids in dance, and also supportive of all the other dancers and families that we have here. So I gave this Dance Mom Award to Harsumeet Tomlinson.
Dance Graduates
I have two very important dancers unfortunately leaving me this year: Piper and Mckinley, who are graduating this year. Both of these girls joined me 3 years ago in the Fall of 2022 when the Creative Roots Dance Studio sadly closed its doors in Smithers. They had been dancing at Creative Roots for many years since they were little, and though it was very sad to lose their hometown studio, it was a blessing for me, as it has been an absolute joy teaching them. I am grateful that they were and still are, willing to make the drive twice a week to see me for their dance classes, and they came to me with already great foundational dance technique, which made my dance teaching job here in Hazelton so satisfying to finally teach advanced dancers again. It is because of these girls, that my dance program boosted and grew to what it is today. They are great and exceptional role models, and they showed my younger dancers what they could look like one day if they put in the work and the time into their dancing. Both Mckinley and Piper are so talented and gifted in dance, are kind, smart, work hard and have an amazing work ethic, and are great with the younger dancers in the comp team.
Piper:
For my two graduates, Piper is younger, so I will highlight her next. When Piper first joined me here at Evolutions, she was such a shy little girl, and now she has blossomed an independent young lady that is able to speak her mind freely and work to get what she wants. She is such a strong and reliable dancer. She is the one in the class that votes to do the dance workouts all the time, and she can jump as high as my head. She is consistent in her technique and is every dance teachers’ dream in being able to apply corrections immediately, even when about to go onstage. If she wanted, she could make a career in dance, performing with a big dance company on a big city stage. For the second year in a row, she has been selected as a Merited Participant in dance to attend the BC Performing Arts Provincials in Prince George, representing the Terrace Dance Festival PNMF. Last year was for her Modern solo, and this year for her Jazz Solo. After she graduates, her plans are to just take it easy, work for a bit, and travel around. I am glad that she is taking some time to reflect on what she wants to do, as whatever she chooses, she will most certainly excel at, and she will put her entire heart and soul into it to come out on top. So thank you Piper, for these few years you have given me to be your dance teacher, I am so proud of who you have become as a dancer and a person, and I look forward to seeing where you decide to go. I hope you will come back and visit us, and tell us about all the wonderful things and adventures you get up to, because I know you will go far.
Mckinley:
And last, but not least, Mckinley. Not going to lie, I struggled to write this part, because every time I tried, I started to tear up. She is the kindest soul, and she works so hard at everything she does. She is a natural leader, an amazing role model, and always makes sure that no one gets left out and feels included. She is the one that takes charge in watching my daughter Kaylee whenever I have to drag her around with me doing dance teacher things. Both her and Piper also teach a few dance classes at the Smithers Gymnastics Centre, and I know that when we talk about it, she always gives me her own good ideas and teaching methods that I write down to use myself. Mckinley is innovative and creative, gently giving me ideas and making suggestions for choreography that I often use. She is not afraid to stand up for herself and speak her mind, letting me know when movement doesn’t feel right or something is wrong, and will often ask questions to make sure she, and everyone else around her, understands. Last month, she auditioned for the Dance Program at the University of Calgary, which is where I received my own dance degree. It melts my heart a little bit that I inspired her to also pursue a dance degree, as I know she will be amazing dance teacher, or amazing in whichever field in dance she decides to pursue. And guess what? She got accepted! She will be going to earn herself a Double Degree in Dance and Education. I am so incredibly proud and happy for her. She has worked so hard this year, and it is all paying off. I am excited for her and what her future holds, because I know that she will be unstoppable.
Dance Fall 2026
Our next dance season is scheduled to start on Monday September 14th, 2026, and I will start taking registrations in August! We will have dance available for all dancers aged 3 to adult in Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Modern, Acro, and Tap. Please check your program for my contact info and please let me know if you would like to register your young dancer or yourself for our Fall classes!
For dancers that just finished this dance season, I will actually most likely start emailing you in June or July, with a tentative schedule and start the registration process. For dancers interested in becoming competitive, please let me know, and I will be holding a competitive dancers’ meeting sometime in June so that I can go over all the details with all that is involved with becoming competitive. It really is exciting, and gives the dancers more performance opportunities while building on their dance technique, discipline, and confidence.
Spring Adult Dance Classes
I have been hanging up a few Spring Adult Dance Classes posters around town and the Rec Centre! After we get back from Prince Rupert, I will be holding some dance classes just for my adults! For six weeks, you can try out Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Dance Cardio! Come see what all the fun is about! Please contact me to sign up and register! I can also do drop in rates, but I first need registrations for the dance classes to run.
Thank you to everyone that came out to our Dance Recital, and supporting Evolutions Dance Studio here in Hazelton. It truly means a lot to me and the dancers, that we are supported and appreciated in doing what we love. I hope everyone has a great summer, and we will hopefully see you again at our next dance recital!
