Brianna Lancaster and Jenelle Stanton have been preparing for the Ultimate Threat dance competition longer than most of their competitors.
Last year, Lancaster, 12, and Stanton, 11, were supposed to perform a lyrical duet, but had to pull out of the competition.
“Brianna broke her leg last year so we couldn’t finish it,” said Amanda Dorscht, the owner of Creative Roots and the girls’ choreographer.
“We got about halfway through last year and had to put it to rest as Brianna recovered.”
But this year, the duo is finally ready to take on dancers from around the province in the competition.
“I’m really excited,” said Stanton, who has been to the convention for the past three years, but never competed.
“I’ve watched the competition and it looks like it would be a lot of fun.”
Lancaster has never been to the convention before but said she is excited to travel to Vancouver.
The piece the girls have been rehearsing is a lyrical duet called Minnow and Trout.
“It’s about friendship and embracing our differences, but then also about coming together and being the same,” she said.
The theme is one that resonates with Lancaster and Stanton, who have been dancing together since they were three and four years old.
“What I like about working with Brianna is that we are fairly comfortable [dancing]with each other,” said Stanton.
Lancaster agreed.
“We suit each other very well,” she said. “We see each other five days a week.”
Though the girls go to different elementary schools, they have remained close friends.
“We have our own lives outside the studio, but once you’re in the studio, it’s that passion for dance that really connects them and that’s what I see with these girls,” said Dorscht.
Lancaster and Stanton are the only dancers from Creative Roots to perform in the competition in the last three years.
“It takes a lot of courage to go out there and put yourself out on stage and compete against some really talented dancers,” said Dorscht.
They will perform this Saturday.
The competition is part of the annual Triple Threat Dance Convention, where industry professionals teach dancers from across Canada about various dance styles.
“It’s a really great opportunity for us to go down to Vancouver and participate in something that we’re not exposed to up here,” said Dorscht.
There are also 11 dancers and three instructors from the studio heading to the convention that begins this Friday.