Dancing sisters reflect on achievements

August 3, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Angela Gismondi
It’s been a successful year of dance for Kaitlyn and Lina Drummond.
The sisters from Schomberg attend Simcoe Dance Academy in Bradford. Lina, 10, has been dancing competitively for four years and Kaitlyn, 9, has been dancing competitively for a year. Both have made remarkable achievements in the past few months.
“If we’re not at school, we’re at dance,” said Lina, adding they are at the studio six or seven days a week. “It’s something we love to do. It’s so much fun.”
While Lina prefers the contemporary and ballet styles, Kaitlyn prefers lyrical and ballet.
“It’s good for them and it keeps them busy,” said Kevin Drummond, the girls’ father. “The studio is a great place. The girls were kind of shy originally and this was a way to bring them out a bit and it worked. It’s a really great environment for the kids.”
They have been participated in numerous dance competitions this year and both have done very well. In April, they took part in the StarCatchers Dance Festival in Pickering. Lina won first place for her solo. She also won first place for her solo at the Kick It Up Dance Competition in Hamilton. In fact, she took first place for her solo in all five competitions she entered in Ontario this year.
Both sisters did well at the ThunderStruck Canada Dance Competition. Lina won first place for her solo, first place for lyrical and second place for her duet. Kaitlyn won first place for ballet and jazz and third place for her duet.
At the This is It Competition in Alliston, Lina won first place for her solo and a special recognition for top solo. She also won first place for her duet and first place overall. Kaitlyn won top junior group for her lyrical number.
Both sisters agree the thing they enjoy most about dancing competitively is receiving feedback from the judges.
“I like to see the results,” explained Lina. “I like going to the next competition and improving and seeing what I can work on.”
“I like to hear their opinions and see what I’m doing well with and what I can improve on,” added Kaitlyn.
While the girls are on summer break from school, they are still dancing. The 2016 Toronto International Youth Dance Festival attended some of the competitions this year and has asked Simcoe Dance Academy to participate in two performances on August 5 and 12 at Nathan Philip Square in Toronto. Kaitlyn will be participating with one of her ensembles.