One local teen gets a chance to attend Harbour Dance Centre in the coming months.
Barrhead’s Xpressions Dance &Fitness Centre jazz instructor Ashlyn Preuss, 15, competed in the five-day Evergreen Dance Festival, held May 3 - 7 in Sherwood Park and earned herself a three-day scholarship to attend Harbour Dance Centre in Vancouver, B.C.
Harbour Dance Centre offers a wide variety of dance classes including jazz, contemporary, ballet and hip-hop and is located in the downtown area.
“At [Evergreen], I danced six different solos and both of the adjudicators recommended that I attend Harbour Dance Centre,” Preuss said, adding she is excited because it is a step towards the future she wants.
“The scholarship means I can go there for three days and take as many classes I want per day. Vancouver is where I want to be in a year so to be able to already go there and do this, it’s pretty awesome,” she said.
Preuss said she did not know she won initially.
“My mom kept it a secret for a week because she wanted to announce it at our studio’s recital. When she said it, honestly, I started crying in front of everybody on stage. It is one of those things that opened my eyes and showed me it is possible for me to do this. I never thought I would be able to be up there and be known already,” Preuss said.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without my mom, Melissa, and my other instructor, Melinda Crabbe, because they have both pushed me so much. I’ve worked very hard to get to this point and I’ve spent my entire life doing this. Don’t let other people or things overcome what you love.”
