Put Kristina Akester, Rachael Withers and Nicholas Ventura in a room and start a conversation, and it won't take long to discover their passion.
It will reveal itself in their every word, smile and gesture.
Dance isn't just something they do. It's who they are.
The three teens are students at Burnaby's Danzmode Productions. They were among the school's top performers at the studio's recent triumphant appearance at the West Coast Dance Explosion national finals in Las Vegas.
Taking on the best of the best from around North America - all of whom qualified to be there by winning at a regional event - the school emerged with multiple group and individual awards. (See sidebar for details.) "The competition was amazing," says Kristina, a 17-yearold from Coquitlam and a student at Gleneagles
Secondary. "It's the biggest deal of them all because the best of the best from all around the States and Canada go to compete."
Kristina, among other honours, was chosen as a top-10 Elite Dancer at the competition.
"Everyone was so amazing. I felt so blessed to just be there and to be surrounded by everyone's talent," she says. "It was just really inspiring."
Rachael notes that with top dancers coming from all around the U.S. and Canada, the event - which included classes in the daytime and competition at night - was a huge learning experience.
"The faculty was really great, I learned a lot from taking the classes," says the 14-year-old, a North Vancouver resident who attends Mulgrave School.
Not surprisingly, all three of the dancers have been involved in their chosen passion for much of their lives.
For Rachael, the journey began at age two when she started dancing at the local
community centre; when she was about five, her parents enrolled her in a formal studio.
"I just loved it from there," she says. "I started competing at age six."
These days, she trains in dance at least 20 hours a week - she's currently spending half-days in school and half-days in dance training. She also maintains a busy acting
career - her fellow dancers are quick to boast on her behalf, noting she's a true "triple threat" in being a first-class singer, dancer and actor, as well as a natural talent who picks everything up quickly. Kristina, too, devotes at least 20 hours a week to her dance.
She laughs, remembering how she got started in dance. Growing up with two older brothers who were into sports, Kristina says her mother put her into dance because that seemed like something a little girl should do.
"She didn't really know what to do with me," she says with a laugh. "Originally, I didn't like to dance."
She's grateful now that her mother encouraged her to stick with it, because she can't imagine doing anything else.
"It's like my life now," she says. "Having the freedom to express myself through movement, it's really empowering. It's a beautiful thing."
She says she's always liked the quote, "Earth without art is just 'eh.'" "If I didn't have dance in my life, I would be just kind of 'eh,'" she says with a smile.
Nicholas, an 18-year-old Vancouver resident, started dancing at age eight. He came into the field via gymnastics, where, he says, he always found himself attracted to the floor exercise dance components. He attended a summer dance camp one year and was hooked after that.
Now, he's eyeing a future career in dance. His next step is attending the London Contemporary Dance School in the U.K., where he's been accepted for study starting in the fall.
He hopes to spend some time dancing in a company - his eyes right now are on Hofesh Schechter Company in the U.K., where many of the dancers hail from the London Contemporary Dance School - and later open his own dance company.
But whatever he does, he says, it will have to do with dance.
"The reason why I'm in dance is because it's natural for me," he says. "It's something that was built in to me, and I just figured it out. ... As long as I am in the dance arts, I will be happy."
All three of the dancers give credit to Danzmode for helping to elevate their performance level.
They're quick to note that artistic director Rachael Poirier pushes and challenges the dancers to go beyond their best, yet still manages to maintain a supportive and friendly environment.
"She's the perfect balance of mentor and teacher and friend," Rachael says.
"We're like a big family," Kristina chimes in. For more on Danzmode, check out the studio's website at www.danzmodeproductions.com or follow them on Twitter, @Danzmode.
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WHAT THEY WON
First place, senior jazz group
Third place, senior lyrical group
Fifth overall, senior group high score
First place, senior male lyrical solo - Nicholas Ventura
Second overall, senior high score - Nicholas Ventura
Second place, senior open solo - Kristina Akester
Top 10 Senior Elite Dancer finalist - Kristina Akester
First place, teen hip hop solo - Rachael Withers
Second place, senior tap solo - Carson Hollier
Scholarship to EDGE studio in L.A. - Rachael Withers
