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Artscene Oakville Beaver · FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2007 34 Dancer reached new heights at international competition Nicole Folland thrilled to represent Canada at World Showdance Championships 2006 By Krissie Rutherford OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Having danced since age five, Nicole Folland has participated in her fair share of competitions. None, however, compare to the Oakville native's most recent. The 21-year-old was one of 22 dancers who earned the chance to represent Canada at the IDO World Showdance Championships 2006 in Germany. As Folland said, "a competition like that just puts you on a completely different level." And she came up big. Of the approximately 50 teams competing from 26 different countries, the Canadian team cracked the finals, placing fourth overall. Folland also picked up individual honours, placing sixth in the solo dance division. "I'm really happy with the way everything went. It was an amazing experience," said Folland, a St. Mildred'sLightbourn grad who now attends McMaster University. "You're performing in an absolutely packed arena. That was probably the biggest audience I've ever had." The trip to Riesa, Germany, was also Folland's first time overseas, and her first time representing Canada. "Going over there to compete on a national level was pretty neat," she said. And since dancers can't participate in the Olympic games, the World Showcase Championships is the next best thing. "In a sense this is the Olympics for us," said Folland, "You're competing against some of the best dancers from all over the world." Her favourite part of the whole experience was similar to the opening ceremonies at the Olympic Games. "The parade of nations, that's when all the different nations come on stage with their flag, that was pretty amazing," said Folland, who added, "performing was the next best thing." The Canadian National Showdance Team performed a dance called Outbreak, which the IDO dance website called "perfect and brilliant dancing." HIGH LEVEL PERFORMANCE: Dancer Nicole Folland performs her solo dance at the IDO World Showdance Championships 2006 in Germany. The 21-year-old dancer finished sixth in the solo event. She was also a member of the Canadian team which placed fourth out of 26 countries. Showdance can include everything from Broadway-style dance to jazz and acrobatics. It involves both a showy dance aspect as well as a great amount of skill. The Canadian team performed what Folland called "a pretty high intensity" routine. "We started as business people with suits and masks on stage, then it goes into this crazy song called Ramalama. "Then we ripped off the suits and the masks came off and underneath we had these elaborate costumes on," she said. "It really gets going. It's fast-paced." The dance was choreographed by Allain Lupien, director of the Oakville-based Canadian Dance Company. Lupien also choreographed the championship-winning Canadian team in 2005. After meeting Lupien "In a sense this is through auditions for the Canadian team and work- the Olympics for us. ing with him to prepare for You're competing the IDO World Showdance against some Championships, Folland of the best dancers now teaches and takes classes at The Canadian from all over the Dance Company when world." she's not at university in Nicole Folland Hamilton. "We wouldn't have come half the way we came and done half the things we did if it hadn't been for Mr. Lupien," she said. "Especially for my solo. He just pushed me so much." Folland danced her solo to a song called The Passage. "It was about a girl who died in a car crash. It kind of took the perspective of she's gone and she's looking back, talking about her mother and how her sister's coping and how she's moving on," she said. "It was a neat song. The lyrics are really interesting." Folland and the Canadian team worked on their routines right after the team was selected last June. "We started rehearsals in the summer and we pretty much rehearsed every weekend, all day, until we left for the competition in November," she said. While most of the dancers didn't know each other at auditions, the team jelled quickly. "Considering everyone was from different studios, Mississauga, Oakville, all over the place, everyone ended up so tight and so together," Folland said. "You'd never know we hadn't danced together our whole lives." Representing Canada on a world stage is something Folland, who, at 21, was the oldest dancer on the team, will probably be doing again next year. "I thought about auditioning again," she said. "It's hard to not want to go back after doing something like that. It's just so much fun to watch all the other countries and to be representing Canada." 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