The leotards and dance shoes were dusted off as the Dance Studio of Swift Current took to the stage for their first live competition in two years.

Over the past couple of years, the studio has been continuing classes with a combination of both in-person and zoom attendance. Last year they managed to compete in a virtual competition which was filmed at the studio and also performed a digital recital at the end of May. 

This month, for the first time in two years, dancers were able to take the stage at the Leader Dance Fusion competition and achieved some impressive results according to Dance Studio owner Melissa Wallace.

"Our studio had 16 dancers who attended and they performed a total of 31 routines. They did solos, duos, trios, and group dances. Of the 31 routines that we performed, 26 of them placed in the top three of their category."

9 different studios attended the competition from all across the south west. Wallace adds that there was a very excited and positive vibe and the audience was very enthusiastic and it was great to hear live applause. 

Of the 26 routines that placed one received third place, four received second place and twenty-one of the routines were awarded first place. In addition, Wallace adds that seven of the routines also ended up winning some of the end overall awards at the competition. 

Wallace reflected on her feelings of returning to live competition.

"It almost felt surreal because it has been so long and it was just such a happy and positive feeling. Everybody had the nerves that come along with going on stage live, those were a little bit more heightened because it's been two full years or for some of them three full years since they've been on a stage."

Wallace adds that they were so happy to see the students being able to dance and the students came off the stage excited and thinking ahead to future live competitions. She says that although it did feel like it had been two years since being on stage, it also felt like normal again. 

The Dance Studio looks to continue its winning streak when they attend the upcoming Kindersley Konnection Dance Festival and Swift Current Festival of Friends dance competitions happening within the next few weeks.