Yorkton’s annual dance competition sees 800 young dancers compete for glory and prizes

The Vibe Dance Competition is taking place in Yorkton for the second year. (Fruzsina de Cloedt / CTV News)

Yorkton’s Gallagher Centre has turned into a colorful extravaganza, from animal ears to tulle skirts, as the second annual Vibe Dance Competition returns to the city.

“We have 880 dancers here from 15 different studios,” co-director of the event, Lindsay Magnusson, told CTV News on Wednesday. “They’re just coming and they’re competing, having fun, bringing positive vibes, and spreading the energy and the love for dance.”

Magnusson and her sister, Kristin Weber, came up with the idea for a new dance competition when they were visiting Saskatoon for another event. Their competition has grown by over 300 performers this year.

“We also are one of six qualifying dance competitions for the new [SaskatchewanDance] provincials. It’s a new dance competition that is now provincially operating first year,” she said. “This year it’ll [be] in June in North Battleford.”

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In Yorkton, dancers compete in various age groups, experience levels, and categories.

“There’s ballet, pointe, there’s lyrical content, there’s musical theatre, we have live singing, we have lip syncing, hip hop, jazz, tap, modern, you name it,” Kristin Weber said.

Due to the high number and variety of performances, both competitors and staff pull long hours to deliver the best experience.

“Usually, teachers and dancers are here by 7:00 to 7:15 [a.m.], warming up and getting ready. And we’re running right through until probably 10:00 at night because we have so many people that wanted to come,” Weber said.

The event, which started on Wednesday, provides an opportunity for aspiring young performers to take a step towards their dream.

“It could help me with getting criticism and everything and also learning how to become a much stronger dancer in a way. And I think it’s just a great competition for that,” a young dancer, Easton Lang, told CTV News on Wednesday.

Like many others, he is aiming for a professional career in the performing arts.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to be in musicals and do Broadway and things like that,” Lang said.

The dance competition will take place until Sunday.