GYD Spring Show Program, May 13th, 2025, 6:30pm

GYD Spring Show Program
Taking Off
May 13th, 2025, River Run Centre

Choreography for these dances were created by either the teacher or in the case of all the composition classes- by the students themselves! We hope you enjoy the show.

GYD Company Ballet
Murmuration

Teacher/Choreographer: Tara Butler

Dancers: Jillian Alac, Sasha Baldwin, Alexandra de Jong, Taylor Grace GillOrme, Kanchani Karunaratne, Audrey Lawson, Chloe LeBlanc, Molly Linder, Ava Martin, Iris Moers, Audrey Richardson, Loresa Sadiku, Maia Schneider-Fields, Quinn Stewart, Kate Thompson, Katy Thomson-Bayne, Maren Wegner, Audrey Withers, Kaiya Wohlgemut

Music: Flight II By Oliver Davis

Ballet 6-8 (Thursday)

Teacher/Choreographer: Kelly Steadman

Dancers: Maryanne Atkinson, Frankie Bowman, Ella Farmer, Willow Johnson, Evelyn Kraehling, Ziyana Lakhani, Eea Landry, Lucy Napier, Roman Newell, Farrah Qahawish, Maureen White

Music: Fireflies By All Covered Up

Assistant: Chloe LeBlanc and Zoey Browne

Apprentice I
The Strength Within

Choreographer: Sarah Cook-Cumming

Dancers: Aubrey Armstrong, Rose Cetkin, Nadège Duffield, Evelyn Foster, Molly Goodridge, Penny Kerrigan, Claire Kowacz

Music: My Days from The Notebook The Musical – performed by Joy Woods, written by Ingrid Michaelson

Contemporary 7-8
Finally the Chickens

Teacher: Leslie Fisher

Choreographers/Dancers: Maryanne Atkinson, Devon Baber, Ora Case, Malcolm Fiddes, Winston Fullerton-Pel, Wallace Grieves, Willow Johnson, Eea Landry, Hannah McNeill, Julia de Boer

Music: Hooked on a feeling by Blue Swede

Ballet 6-8 (Saturday)

Teacher/Choreographer: Sarah Cook-Cumming

Dancers: Hadley Barson, Matilda Clarke, Anaève Duffield, Bailey Ferris, Willow Lyon-Fung, Margot Mortimer-Denich, Rayne Ostberg, Aria Read, Lyris Royer, Caera Thomson, Ember Wells

Music: Two by Sleeping at Last, cover by Tyler Michaels

Assistant: Alvy Cope and Hilah Watson

Jazz 6-8

Teacher/Choreographer: Kelly Steadman

Dancers: Maryanne Atkinson, Robin Deane, Finda Everitt, Ella Farmer, Mya Kelly, Eea Landry, Cara Nightingale, Elise Ribeiro, Stevie Rickard, Malik Sarkis-Skinner, Aria Van Driel, Annie Walters

Music: Groove Is in the Heart By Deee-Lite

Assistant: Maélle Atkinson, Emma De Jong and Taia McKeown

Apprentice II
Beyond the Line

Choreographer: Iris Moers and Audrey Richardson

Dancers: Maélle Atkinson, Charlotte Gouws, Emma de Jong, Mila Lewis, Maeve Mathany, Isabel McNeill, Ayla Prieur, Audrey Ribeiro, Adia Ross, Grace Snell, Maddy Thomson-Bayne, Skye Watson

Music: Frozen Pines by Lord Huron

GYD Company
Rhythm and Roots

Choreographer: Kween

Music: Mamito’s Calypso

Apprentice Ballet and Ballet 8-10

Teacher/Choreographer: Meredith Woodley

Dancers: Aubey Armstrong, Rose Cetkin, Nadege Duffield, Evelyn Foster, Molly Goodridge, Penny Kerrigan, Claire Kowacz, Eldon Legeza-Stewart, Alondra Zwingli

Music: Waltz of the Hours by Leo Delibes

Assistant: Maren Wegner

Hip Hop 6-8

Teacher/Choreographer: Rebecca May

Dancers: Audrey Al-Aidroos, Maryanne Atkinson, Julia de Boer, Majoly Cloutier, Robin Deane, Aria Van Driel, Tosh Gillespie-Byrne, Clara Haley, Olive Harris, Mya Kelly, Maya Krompholc, Eea Landry, Ben Marontate, Hannah McNeill, Harlan Nonkes, Oscar Oh, Neve Roman, Toros Serkis, Annie Walters.

Music: Sunshine- by One Republic

Assistant: Taia McKeown, Maddie Thomson-Bayne

Young Company
Together

Choreographer: Tara Butler

Dancers: Alvy Cope, Olivia Dube-Goss, Claire Gomes, Olivia Gomes, Violet Lawson, Stephania Ltvynova, Ayana Morton, Samantha Ribeiro, Sarah Snell, Arwen Stephens, Maelle Stephenson, Talia Vigers, Hilah Watson, Viola Williams, Karis Wohlgemut, Maia Zwingli

Music: Wake me up by Avicii, Eleanor Rigby The Beatles -With Guelph Youth Orchestra

INTERMISSION
Jazz 10-12

Teacher/Choreographer: Kelly Steadman

Dancers: Isabel Dartsch, Josie Evans, Mila Giddings, Charlotte Gouws, Maeve Mathany, Beatrice McMurtry, Isabel McNeill, Beatrix Morrison, Maggie Morrison, Mika Stewart, Maddy Thomson-Bayne

Music: Wipe Out By: Fred Mollin, Blue Sea Band

Contemporary 6-8
Snowflake kaleidoscope

Teacher: Leslie Fisher

Dancers/Choreographers: Henry Painting, Karina Picken, Aria Read, Ali Santiago-Smolkin

Music: Live music – Jeffery Wilson

Assistant: Grace GillOrme

Graduation Duet
Emerging Fullness

Choreographer: Georgia Simms

Dancers: Iris Moers, Audrey Richardson

Music: A Dynamic Sense of Light by Francesca Guccione (with excerpt from John O’Donohue on the On Being Podcast)

Hip Hop 9-11

Teacher/Choreographer: Rebecca May

Dancers: Noah Borges, Thea Bosch, Willow Brodie, Josie Evans, Ellie Forbes, Bébhinn Fraser, Molly Goodridge, Meredith Kent, Juniper Khagram, Esmé Landry, Mackenzie Mader Leblanc, Finnley Major McRonald, Beatrice McMurtry, Moira Percy, Aayana Pew, Mika Stewart, Caera Thomson, Maddy Thomson-Bayne |

Music: Cut version of Perfect Strangers- by Jonas Blue and JP Cooper

Young Company
Overwhelm

Choreographer: Leslie Fisher

Music: Escape Artist by Zoe Keating

Jazz 9-11

Teacher/Choreographer: Kelly Steadman

Dancers: Maélle Atkinson, Willow Brodie, Ellie Forbes, Charlotte Havercroft, Esmé Landry, Mackenzie Mader Leblanc, Isabel McNeill, Olivia Osborne, Grace Snell, Caera Thomson, Emma de Jong

Music: Happy By: Pharrell Williams

Assistant: Maren Wegner

Hip Hop CREW

Teacher/Choreographer: Rebecca May

Dancers: Noah Borges, Josie Evans, Juniper Khagram, Finnley Major McRonald, Taia McKeown, Beatrice McMurtry, Moira Percy, Maddy Thomson-Bayne, Taylor Wright

Music: Cut version of I Cry- by Flo Rida

Assistant: Loresa Sadiku

GYD Company
Microcosm

Choreographer: Tara Butler

Music: Forte by Zoe Keating, Microcosm by Olafur Arnalds

OUR GRADUATES

A few words from our graduating dancers as they embark on their next chapter of their journey.

Iris Moers

“I will eternally treasure all that the GYD studio has offered me. Finding my home at GYD is something I am grateful for everyday. The experiences I had and the memories I made will remain with me forever. The studio has contributed to the person I am today in countless ways. The warmth and open mindedness of the space stimulated creativity. The support I found in my connections with dancers and teachers gave me an outlet to express myself. As well, my experiences with choreographers and during trips and workshops left me inspired. There are not enough words for the appreciation I have towards all the staff at GYD who made my experience so special. I am permanently in awe of the incredible people who have run and continue to run the studio. The community here is truly unparalleled. I look back on this time in my life with immense gratitude that I was able to learn and grow in such a healthy environment. I hope to carry forward with as much positivity and selflessness as I experienced from the people at GYD. This studio is one of a kind, and I am endlessly thankful that I got to be a part of it.” Iris Moers

Audrey Richardson

“I can’t believe that my time is finally up as a GYD Company dancer. The past 11 years at GYD has been an amazing experience that has shaped me into the person I am today. Classes don’t only come with combinations and repertoire, they have also provided life lessons that I will hold for the rest of my life. I have learned many life skills that have supported me both inside and outside the studio, but most importantly, I have learned how to appreciate my body and the world around me through movement. Some of my favourite experiences through the GYD Company have been The Chrysalis Project, the New Brunswick dance exchange, and by far, all of the connections and friendships that I have made along the way. Coming up for me, I am taking a gap year to work full time and also travel! I will then be going to University in September of next year to study business! I have been lucky to call Guelph Youth Dance my home away from home for the past 11 years and I can not thank everyone enough for making my experience what it was. A special thank you must be given to Janet Johnson, Kelly Steadman, Leslie Fisher, and Catrina von Radecki for your endless support since the beginning of my dance journey at GYD. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart, you will be missed dearly.” Audrey Richardson

SUPPORT STAFF

Lighting Design & Sound Technician: River Run Staff

Stage Manager: Leslie Fisher

Documentation: Dan Charlebois, BloomMedia

Volunteers: Laura Armstrong, Corina Fields, Sylvie Graves, Luka Hazl, Kadyn Kapitain, Ruby Keegan, Meagan Pitts, Andrea Stewart, Kira Thompson, Torrey Mackintosh, Jax McKeown, Caitlin Mombourquette.

Heartfelt thanks to the wonderful, dedicated and passionate GYD dancers, to their supportive parents, the GYDTP staff, all our guest choreographers, Leslie Fisher, the River Run staff and to our volunteers, we couldn’t have done it without your combined care.

All sales from flowers will go towards the GYD Company’s touring 2025-26. Thanks kindly for your support.

Thank you to our partner Suzuki String School of Guelph