GYD Spring Show Program Highlights and Features

GYD Spring Show Program, May 14th, 2025, 6:30pm

GYD Spring Show Program
Flying
May 14th, 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

Young Company Ballet
Carefree

Teacher/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: Flight III by Oliver Davis

Contemporary 9-12 (Tuesday)
Emotion in motion

Teacher:Leslie Fisher

Dancers/Choreographers: Alaya Boni, Zayla Charlebois, Gilda Dermer-Collins, Emelia Ducharme, Olivia Osborne, Naya Read, Anna Saffery, Annika Schmidt, Ruth Waller, Isla Brewster, Marlowe Brewster

Music: Crystallize by Lindsay Stirling

Contemporary 11-12
Before Earth, There Was Dance

Teacher/Facilitator: Evadne Kelly

Dancers/Choreographers: Maélle Atkinson, Sequoia Baskin, Maddy Thomson-Bayne, Ruth van Berkel, Valerie Eckert, Olivia Dube-Goss, Emma de Jong, Esmé Landry, Violet Lawson, Mila Lewis, Isabel McNeill, Ayla Prieur, Samantha Ribeiro, Grace Snell, Arwen Stephens, Maelle Stephenson, Astrid Tribe-Core, Viola Williams, Karis Wohlgemut

Music: Compilation: Star Wars (Main Theme) Composed by John Williams, London Symphony Orchestra; Rises the Moon by Liana Flores: The Water Rises by Kronos Quartet and Laurie Anderson; Butterfly by Lily Meola; When the party’s over by Billie Eilish.

Contemporary 13-14
Into the Groove

Teacher/Choreographer: Georgia Simms

Dancers/Creators: Lauren Alaan, Kylie Bedford, Laila Cockburn, Alvy Cope, Olivia Crawford, Taylor Grace GillOrme, Claire Gomes, Olivia Gomes, Alexandra de Jong, Stefania Lytvynova, Ava Martin, Ayana Morton, Ella Osborne, Ivana Sambhwani, Sarah Snell, Talia Vigers, Hilah Watson, Maia Zwingli

Music: New Groove by Takénobu

Apprentice I
The Strength Within

Teacher/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 15 +
Remembering In Rainbows

Teacher/Choreographer: Georgia Simms

Dancers/Creators: Jillian Alac, Sasha Baldwin, Katy Thomson-Bayne, Maia Schneider-Fields, Penny Jamieson, Kanchani Karunaratne, Audrey Lawson, Chloe LeBlanc, Molly Linder, Iris Moers, Audrey Richardson, Loresa Sadiku, Quinn Stewart, Kate Thompson, Maren Wegner, Audrey Withers, Kaiya Wohlgemut

Music: 15 Step & Nude (Instrumental) by Radiohead

Apprentice II Company
Bumblebee Feet

Choreographer: Eliza Mills

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: All My Life, the Staves

Assistant: Audrey Richardson

Contemporary 9-10
Killin’ Colours

Teacher: Meredith Blackmore

Dancers/Choreographers: Aubrey Armstrong, Rose Cetkin, Nadège Duffield, Evelyn Foster, Molly Goodridge, Charlotte Gouws, Penny Kerrigan, Claire Kowacz, Maeve Mathany, Audrey Ribeiro, Adia Ross, Skye Watson

Music: Nightlife by Bonobo, Bajka

Apprentice I, Young Company and GYD Company
Mizu

“Listen to the sound of waves within you.” ~Rumi

Choreographer: Lisa Sandlos and Global Water Dances International, with creative contributions from the Guelph Youth Dance company dancers

GYD Company 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: Drifting Down Ice by Laila Biali

Young Company 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: Evolving Rhythms (Global Water Dances International); poem by Maelle Stephenson and Seascape by Eleni-Ira Panourgia (audio recording Dave Mattar)

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

Music: Global Dance 2023 by Nicolás Soto Urrea

INTERMISSION
Apprentice II and Ballet 10-11

Teacher/Choreographer: Kelly Steadman

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

Music: Cairngorm Mountain/Kohler’s Hornpipe By Celtic Fiddle Festival

Assistant: Audrey Richardson

Ballet 14 +

Teacher/Choreographer: Meredith Woodley

Dancers: Zoey Browne, Julia Dartsch, Sophie Dartsch, Penny Jamieson, Chloe LeBlanc

Music: Les Sylphides – Prelude and Waltz by Frederic Chopin

Hip Hop 12+

Teacher/Choreographer: Rebecca May

Dancers: Violet Lawson, Taia McKeown, Emmie Rawie, Taylor Wright

Music: Cut Version of Uptown Funk- by Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars

Young Company
Overwhelm

Choreographer: Leslie Fisher

Music: Escape Artist by Zoe Keating

Graduation Duet
Emerging Fullness

Choreographer: Georgia Simms

Dancers: Audrey Richardson and Iris Moers

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

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

Jazz 12-14

Teacher/Choreographer: Kelly Steadman

Dancers: Laila Cockburn, Alvy Cope, Olivia Dube-Goss, Claire Gomes, Olivia Gomes, Hazel Lawr, Violet Lawson, Stefania Lytvynova, Anna Mathany, Taia McKeown, Ayana Morton, Ella Osborne, Ivana Sambhwani, Sarah Snell, Hilah Watson, Karis Wohlgemut, Taylor Wright

Music: Take Five By: The Dave Brubeck Quartet

Jazz 14 +

Teacher/Choreographer: Kelly Steadman

Dancers: Jillian Alac, Sasha Baldwin, Kylie Bedford, Sophia Breton, Zoey Browne, Julia Dartsch, Sophie Dartsch, Taylor Grace GillOrme, Chloe Griffin, Penny Jamieson, Alexandra de Jong, Audrey Lawson, Chloe LeBlanc, Molly Linder, Maddy Major McRonald, Ava Martin, Loresa Sadiku, Quinn Stewart, Kate Thompson, Katy Thomson-Bayne, Maren Wegner, Audrey Withers,

Music: The Hornet By BBC Band

Hip Hop CREW

Teacher/Choreographer: Rebecca May

Dancers: Noah Borges, Josie Evans, Juniper Khagram, Finnley 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
Magnetism

Choreographer: Julia Cosentino

Music: Abandoned Room I: Pulsae by grej, Gregory Harrison

Assistant: Tara Butler

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, Azalea Borges, Sharon Cook, Corina Fields, Grace Karram, 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