Fun, exciting season for Brooks Academy of Dance
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In their first competitive season, Brooks Academy of Dance (BAD) started small at Flashdance, went on to Just Dance and Rhythm Dance, and finished big at Terpsichore.
BAD dancers Sami Maerten, 11, and Rae Jones, 10, competed in a novice acro duet, African Dreams.
“It was pretty good,” said Maerten.
“Yeah, I had a lot of fun,” said Jones.
“We had some makeup issues in the past… hair issues,” Jones laughed. “She lost her lipstick a bunch of times so I had to lend her mine. And my eye liner broke… so we had to go buy new ones.”
“Same, same,” nodded Maerten. “A lot happens behind the scenes.”
It wasn’t a panic situation, however.
“We have to stay really calm,” said Maerten, “or else things go bad.”
In four competitions, the acro dancers finished first or second in their novice duet division, and gained a lot of experience.
“Our first competition, we missed the stunt we have at the very end,” said Maerten, “and I was really, really happy at the second competition when we got it. We actually did our best at the second competition.”
“We recovered from that trip at the end (of the first competition),” said Jones. “We didn’t do it, but we didn’t cry – we weren’t disappointed with ourselves.”
They also learned how to the handle the stress of going in front of judges for the first time.
“I was actually really nervous before I went on stage,” said Maerten. “It was definitely easier the last time than the first time. It’s a lot easier to present dances in front of people having that experience – so it was really good experience.”
“I was a little bit nervous the last time because we had competition,” said Jones. “We learned we have to point our toes and straighten our legs ‘a lot’ more.”
Both Jones and Maerten had three acro classes this year – recreational, technical and competitive. They also took jazz and ballet classes.
Next season, Jones may add lyrical and hip hop.
“There’s going to be a couple more numbers next year. Miss Brittany doesn’t know how many, but she wants me to do a jazz solo. Some people can take tap, if you have rhythm to do tap, and I don’t have any rhythm at all,” said Jones.
“Yeah, me too,” Maerten smiled. “Exactly like Rae, I’m going to be taking lyrical and hip hop as well. I’m not sure what Miss Brittany has planned for competing numbers.”
Dennim Groke, 15, competed in a novice hip hop solo and Baylee West, 13, in a novice acro solo.
“When I first did the competition, I started off with an 87 kind of score,” said Groke, noting an improvement over the season. “Then the last competition I had a 91.98 or something like that, and I won first place out of three kids.”
“I started off with like an 86 and went to 91-point-something,” said West.
In addition to her hip hop, Groke also took a recreational jazz class. West had acro, ballet and jazz.
“Not flexible at all,” Groke laughed, noting she wouldn’t be trying acro.
“And I can’t do hip hop,” West grinned. “In acro, it’s your technique and your flexibility.”
“In hip hop you really have to make all the movements ‘big’ or else it doesn’t look as good,” said Groke. “And you really have to use your plie, and show elevation and different levels – like up and down – to show more energy. And have good facials.”
As a team, said Groke, BAD enjoyed the competitive season.
“Everyone was really supportive.”
The Brooks competitive team included Amanda Farkas, Dennim Groke, Rae Jones, Yuuri Mori Jones, Breanna Kyle, Sami Maerten, Emily Ratch, Taylor Rice, Connor Savoy, Taylor Roloson, Justine Verhoeve, Lindsay Vermeeren, Baylee West and Taylor West.
“We went to Flashdance in Burlington, then Just Dance…” said studio director Brittany Brooks.
“In Kitchener,” said assistant director Emily Brooks. “The last one we went to was Terpsichore in Brantford. And we went to Rhythm Dance in St. Catharines.”
“They did amazing,” said Brittany. “We had our ups and downs throughout the year, but overall it was massive improvements throughout the whole group.
“It was fun and exciting. We got special awards for two of our novice dances (a duet and solo), which was a big thing for the kids.”
In addition to the ‘competitive’ level, there is a novice level for first-year competitive dancers, and a recreational (pre-competitive) level.
“I think it’s a lot more fair these days,” said Brittany, in favour of different levels of competition. “It’s better for the kids.”
Both Brittany and Emily noticed a change in attitude and effort over the course of the competitive season.
“Big time in motivation and drive,” said Brittany. “They want it more. You can see it in the classes – even in the recreational classes. They ask more questions, they pick it up faster, they want to learn more, they want to do better. And they’re understanding that it’s not ‘given’ to them, they have to earn it, put the hours in…”
“Stage presence also improved throughout each competition,” said Emily. “We noticed the difference every time we went to another competition – facial expressions and the way they use the stage.”
“Every stage is different, every judge is different, every auditorium has different lighting,” said Brittany, “and as dancers, it’s our responsibility to adapt and learn.”
“Judging is… I think unpredictable is the best way to put it,” said Emily.
“As long as they have a clean routine we have a good idea, but until you get the number, you never know,” Brittany nodded.
A competitive team will continue to be a part of the Brooks Academy of Dance program going forward, said Brittany.
“Absolutely. It was a complete blast. There were ups and downs, but that’s to be expected. Overall the kids had a blast and the parents had a blast. We have more kids asking, more kids wanting to audition. It is going to continue.”
“It’ll be larger than this year,” predicted Emily, looking forward to coming up with new ideas for choreography.
“Oh yeah,” she laughed. “Already started.”
The BAD studio’s annual year-end show is June 21-22 at the Tillsonburg Community Centre, including two shows on the 22nd.
Some of the Brooks Academy dancers will perform on stage at Turtlefest on June 14.