(Photo credit: Prince George Dance Festival).

By Stephanie Swensrude

WEEKEND ENTERTAINMENT

“It’s surreal”: Prince George Dance Festival welcomes excited dancers

Apr 16, 2022 | 12:22 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — Prince George dancers are finally returning to the stage in person after two years of pandemic changes.

The Prince George Dance Festival is on this weekend at Vanier Hall.

“There’s so much positive energy, the people are happy to see each other, they’re happy to be on that stage with a live audience,” said Twylla Hamelin, chair of the Prince George Dance Festival.

The festival received over 950 entries this year, taking place from Thursday (April 14) to Monday (April 18).

“In 2020 our festival was cancelled literally 24 hours before we were ready to go. People had already travelled here from out of town,” said Hamelin.

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In 2021, the festival was held online, with dancers taking part from their living rooms.

“It’s a completely different experience.”

Hamelin said some dancers missed out on their final year of dance because of the pandemic. However, some kids who started doing dance during the pandemic will dance in front of an audience for the first time this weekend.

“We have some 12-year-olds dancing this year who normally this might be their second or third festival and yet for them it might be their first,” said Hamelin. “It’s been an experience.”

Hamelin said due to the sponsors from the community, they’re able to give away $27,000 worth of scholarships to young dancers.

There will be performances in jazz, hip hop, and ballet. Dancers will also perform theatrical production numbers and acrobatic pieces.

Tickets are on sale now.