On 10 April 2014, MGCI’s Urban Dance Club competed in TDSB’s Dare2Dance semi-finals audition hosted at Oakwood C.I. Dare2Dance is an event created by the TDSB to allow high school students a chance to present a theme through dance. This year, the theme was concerned with expressing their experience of living in Toronto: “Our city, Our stories”.
Approximately 20 teams competed in the Dare2Dance semi-finals. Jurors included Tre Armstrong from So You Think You Can Dance Canada, Allen Kaeja, Gabby Kamino, and Jon Drops Reid. Each team presented their story of Toronto through different styles of dance, including hip-hop, contemporary, ballet, and break-dancing. MGCI’s team performed well, earning a place in the finals along with eight other teams. Stephen Wen, vice-president of Urban Dance Club, commented on the team’s work: “The team has come a really long way in our time practicing. The fact that we could take such a group and that we can learn and grow so much together is amazing. Getting into the finals is a major accomplishment for us all”.
Final performance day will take place on 15 May at the Toronto Center for Arts, George Weston Recital Hall. However, there will be a lot of work to do between now and the finals. Urban Dance Club will be filming vignettes with the TDSB which will be used in their final performance. They will also be participating in an artist feedback session, in which professional artists will be providing advice to competing teams.
For now, Urban Dance Club will continue to work hard to prepare for the finals. Karen Wu, president of Urban Dance Club and choreographer, says “I am really proud of everyone on our team for working so hard and I know we’re going to put on an amazing performance. My only wish is for everyone to have a lot of fun”.
MGCI Urban Dance Club filming vignettes of their practices for Dare2Dance. Photo: David Tang
