For The Luv Of It!

In the city of Vancouver and across the lower mainland, there are studios filled with incredible talent waiting to be unleashed to the public. There are high school students that train five to seven days a week preparing dances, going to conventions and choreographing their own pieces, trying to fulfill a dream. There are individual vocalists, straining for a break in the tough industry for a record deal. There are elementary students that are born with a gift that they aren't even sure of yet - subdued and confident in their own abilities because they haven't hit the stage of comparison. There are dance clubs in schools that find unknown skill and turn it into something great with perseverance and friendship.

All of this talent came together for one day at the Granville Theatre youth showcase on Sunday January 11th, and it was a night to remember. For The Luv Of It! creator and trained dancer Carla Catherwood of CMC Entertainment has the amazing capability to find hidden gems and thrust them into the open world of dance and music. Each year she hosts a Pro show and a Youth show, to create opportunities for all.

At the professional show, this year ‘So You Think You Can Dance Canada' winner Nico Archambault showed up with his girlfriend to join in on the action. Joining him, there were also casting agents, talent agencies, producers and more, that watched from the crowd. Following that was the Youth show, a time for the minors to shine!

The night consisted of twenty eight diverse musical numbers, ranging from solo vocalists, to lyrical duets, to African dancing and even acrobatics. The girls were dominating at breakdancing, and the boys were living up to expectations in vocals. There was no room for stereotypes. I had the amazing opportunity to be a part of this showcase, and perform a hip hop routine with my dance company of fourteen amazing girls.

While I enjoyed each routine, the one that I loved the most was performed by Matisse Quaglia and Kyle Shepard - a tap dancer and a beatboxer. It was extremely orgininal and entertaining, as were all the acts. While I was there, I witnessed how dance and music brings out the best in everyone - there were no judges, so there was no competition. The night was filled with laughter, astonishment, applause and of course, nervousness!

Carla and her team set out to bring performers from all over - North Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Langley, and more, where versatility and flair were her only regulations. There was no age limit - or performance limit! The twelve year olds were on the same level as the seventeen year olds, it truly didn't matter. Each and every performer there that night, including myself, was there not to compete, not to win a scholarship, and not to be judged or compared. We were there for the love of it.