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W l .1 )M ;SI )AY. .11 IY .5. 2 ( K ) 2 • i mh<■ (.1 Junior Miss dancer has grace and heart By Mary-Louise Langlois SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER

Winning a major competition in any field, at any level doesn’t just happen. It’s not luck. It takes practice, dedication, drive, ambition, more practice— and talent. And winning the Junior Miss Dance pageant didn’t just happen for 13 year-old Kelly Shaw. She had all the required attributes need­ ed for success, plus a big dose of heart. “When Kelly dances, she dances from her heart and soul,” said dance teacher Carla Marques. Marques, co-owner of Premiere Dance in Oakville, has been Shaw’s teacher for seven years. Shaw began preparing for the Dance Masters of America (Chapter 43) Junior Miss Dance pageant last December. With the competition scheduled to take place this past spring, Kelly spent months working on the choreography with Marques. There was a lot to prepare for. The Dance Master Pageant isn’t just about dancing — the judges consider the whole person. Shaw not only had to prepare her lyrical dance for the talent por­ tion of the pageant, but also-for the audition segment which includ­ ed tap, jazz, ballet and acrobatics. The second component of the competition is the interview in which contestants are given an opportunity to show who they really are. "They (the judges) like to know about the child and whether that child would be well suited to represent their chapter down at the nation­ als, which is where Kelly and I will be going in July. Although it is about dance they also would like to know that the chap­ ter representative (Shaw) is a nice person and can converse with people,” said Marques. The final component is the talent performance. Shaw chose to do Peter C. McCusker • Oakville Beaver lyrical dance, which is interpretation of music with words. It is a Dancer Kelly Shaw is the winner of the Junior Miss Dance Pageant. Shaw attends Premiere Dance. slower form of jazz, but with ballet. love, but, in recent years, has also been studying tap, jazz, lyrical, hip York; she is now back at work preparing for the national pageant “She interprets music so well that this piece of music (Little Bird, hop and pointe. scheduled to take place in Orlando, Florida. sung by recording artist Jewel) was a very mature piece but because Time management is extremely important to Shaw, who main­ She will be competing July 29, but she will first participate in of her maturity and her involvement in the dance I thought she could tains an A average and trains about 16 hours a week. She recently dance workshops that run from 9 a.m. until about 10 p.m. handle it. I took the chance and it worked,” said Marques, who cho­ graduated from Fern Hill School as a straight A student. “Kelly is unbelievable... she’s driven. She’s a great student at reographed the dance. In the fall she begins her senior years at Oakville Trafalgar High school, a great student at the studio. She’s very hard working, dedi­ “At this level the most important thing is the fluidity of a dancer. School. cated and polite. She really takes what you give her and it processes The girls are getting to that level of maturity where they have to start Shaw spoke of the importance of a positive mental attitude when through her mind and then through her body through dance. moving from inside.” preparing for a dance pageant. Speaking as a teacher you can’t ask any more than that,” remarked At ages 12 and 13 there is a transition in dance styles from that “You have to say (to yourself) ‘I’m going to try the best that I can Marques. of little girl to young woman. and if I don’t come out a winner it’s okay' because I love to be on Marques tells parents, “This isn’t just about dance, this a learn­ The contestants are marked in all three areas, each worth a certain stage dancing. ing process — learning how to be with other kids, learning how to percentage. The winner earns the championship based on the over­ “You have to say I love to dance and that’s it,” she added. be in a class, learning about discipline and respect. How to conduct all combined highest marks. Each DMA (Dance Masters of America) chapter has its own pag­ yourself.” After only a few months of recreational dancing Shaw began eant and the winners of the chapter competition qualify to participate As Shaw prepares for the competition in Florida her positive atti­ competing at age eight. She stepped in to a competition at the last in the Dance Masters of America’s annual competition. tude is clear and steadfast. minute when a competitive dancer at the dance school broke her arm Thirty-four young artists competed in the district contest this “I want to try the best that I can. I feel I have already accom­ and couldn’t compete. After that, Shaw didn’t look back.. .it was the spring, all vying to represent the local chapter. plished a great goal by winning Junior Miss Dance. This pageant in beginning of her competitive career. She began with ballet, her first Shaw took some time off after winning the pageant in North Orlando is just the next step.” Fans melted over pop stars Velvet Empire By Lindsey Craig opportunity to meet Justin Humes (from Approximately 400 people turned SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Montreal), Alex Price (Vancouver), out for the occasion, patiently waiting in Janelle Belgrave (Toronto), Ryan line behind yellow ropes set up to main­ Hundreds of pre-teen girls anxiously Hamilton (Edmonton) and Lacey Block tain the crowd, which was comprised awaited their chance last Thursday to (Lethbridge). mostly of young girls and accompany­ meet with the newest Canadian musical Natalie Goik, 12, said she’d been a ing adults. sensation Velvet Empire. Velvet Empire fan “since they came Other Oakville fans came from St. From 4-6 p.m., Velvet Empire — the out” and that Justin was her favourite. Marguerite’s and St. Bernadette’s, new Popstars group, signed autographs Crystal Shurland, 13, said she liked among other schools. and posed for pictures with young fans Janelle best, while Rachael Ryan, 12, However, young people were also at Wal-Mart on Hays Boulevard. said Alex was her favourite. drawn to the event from cities beyond It was the group’s first appearance in Both fans agreed that Frontin’ On Oakville, such as Burlington and the Oakville area, and fans, equipped Me was one of the group’s best tracks. Mississauga. with cameras and colourful signs, began The two were able to attend the event One pair of 14-year-olds to make a lining up outside the store by 3 p.m. thanks to a devoted grandmother who particularly long journey to get here was Many waited well over an hour for the drove them. Cristine Lehmann and her friend Adam Fowler. The duo live in Cambridge, and began their trek with a 9 a.m. bus to Hamilton. Surviving a thunder and lightening storm, they then took a bus to Burlington at 11:35 a.m., and from there a train to Oakville. “We missed the 10:35 a.m. bus because we were talking and so excit­ ed,” said Lehmann. Arriving at the train station in Oakville, they then completed the trip with a bus ride to Wal-Mart. But their efforts, they said, were well Barrie Erskine • Oakville Beaver worth it. The two had previously learned of a contest whereby if fans The crowd outside Wal-Mart reacts upon the arrival of the members of the were spotted at the event with a large pop group Velvet Empire Thursday afternoon. The lineup to see the rising sign that read, “Carrie is cool”, they stars started about 8 a.m. for the autograph signing which started at 4 p.m. would be able to meet the group and pose with them for a picture. Lehmann The two agreed that Now You Don't the final five — which created Velvet and Fowler made a sign that boldly dis­ and Don't Tell Me were their favourite Empire. The group’s debut album is played the message and were chosen as tracks and that they were amazed by self-titled and contains 12 tracks, one of the contest winners. their chance to meet the group. which made it to number one on MTV’s After meeting their idols and getting Velvet Empire was created as a result daily countdown. their pictures taken with them, a teary- of Popstars — Boy Meets Girl, a 10 In addition to their Oakville appear­ eyed Lehmann was in shock. “I can’t month process of intense interviews and ance, Velvet Empire also held an auto­ believe it,” she said. competitions. graph signing at a Wal-Mart in Lehmann also echoed the sentiments In the beginning, 4,000 Canadian Richmond Hill, and sang the national Barrie Erskine • Oakville Beaver of many, including one mom, by saying teens and young adults auditioned to anthem at the July 3 Toronto Argonauts Velvet Empire members, from left, Alex Price, Justin Humes, Janelle Belgrave, that Justin was her favourite, while make the group, with the selection home game. The Wal-Mart appearances Ryan Hamilton, and Lacey Block. Fowler said he liked Janelle the best. process finally narrowed to 30, and then were sponsored by Salon Selectives.

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