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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, September 3, 2015 | 40 Artscene Maija Smith and Yasmina Granic `excited' to dance on international stage by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff "Connected to your Community" Ten-year-olds headed to World Show Dance Championships in Germany unit 101, in Oakville. The event runs from 6-8 p.m. and includes a raffle. Tickets cost $20 and can be purchased in advance by emailing teamcanadadancers@ hotmail.com or at the door. More information is available on the event's Facebook page at https://goo.gl/Xs7vHB. Maija and Yasmina's Show Dance team began rehearsals last weekend, which start off with five-hour practices at CDC. Their choreographer is Oakville's Allain Lupien, the CDC owner who also plays Lucien on TV's The Next Step. Maija has been dancing since she was three years old, while this will be Yasmina's fifth year dancing competitively with CDC. The pair collectively trains more than 15 hours per week in tap, jazz, ballet, contemporary, hip-hop and acro (a combination of dance and gymnastics). Maija's mom, Jennifer Smith, has been a teacher at CDC for the past four years. A dancer herself since age five, Jennifer has been teaching mostly tap and pre-school-age dancing for more than 20 years. "I was so excited and really proud of her (Maija) because this is something that she wanted to do herself, but also it's a really great experience for her," said Jennifer. "It's a really good opportunity for her to see what dancers are like around the world. She's been to New York City, (and) Florida, but this will be totally different because she'll see (dancers) from European countries, South Africa and different styles and types of dance.... They know it's a special opportunity." Josipa Granic, Yasmina's mom, said she too was excited and proud of her daughter getting the chance to represent Canada on the world stage. "I think it's an amazing achievement for such a young girl," she said. "I can see her excitement and passion for it (dance) too. It's an amazing thing to see your children dance. They truly love it." T wo local 10-year-olds are taking their love of dance to the international stage after being selected to represent Canada at the World Show Dance Championships in Germany in the fall. Oakville's Maija Smith and Yasmina Granic will be headed to Reisa, Germany in November to compete in what is largely described as "the Olympics of dance" from Nov. 23-28. The International Dance Organization, which puts on the competition, is a world federation with a membership of 90 nations representing more than 250,000 dancers from six continents. Participants compete to earn gold, silver and bronze designations. Maija and Yasmina, dancers at the Oakvillebased Canadian Dance Company (CDC), auditioned and were selected to be on the team competing in the Show Dance category; a high-calibre jazz type of dance that tells a story. The pair will be joining Team Canada East -- there will also be two more teams representing the West and Central Canada attending the championships, according to teamcanadadance.com. "I was very, very excited," said Maija, of finding out she had been selected. "I'm excited to dance on the world stage, but I'm a little bit nervous because I've never been (to the World Show Dance Championships)." The Post's Corners Public School student, who will be entering Grade 6 next week, said she is most looking forward to dancing on the From left, Oakville's Maija Smith and Yasmina Granic, both aged 10, will be headed to the World Show Dance Championships in Germany in November. | photos courtesy Canadian Dance Company world stage and meeting people from other countries. It's a sentiment shared by teammate Yasmina, who admits she's very happy and excited to attend the international competition, but "also nervous at the same time." "I get to dance with my friends (from CDC) so that was a good thing," said the prospective Grade 5 student at St. Andrew Elementary School. Every dancer competing at the world cham- pionships needs to raise $3,600 (plus the cost of chaperones) through sponsorships and fundraising events. Maija and Yasmina, whose moms will be headed with them to Germany, have already put on lemonade stands and organized bottle drives. On Saturday, Sept. 12, the duo and fellow teammate Gracie Smith, of Mississauga, will also be hosting a fundraiser at The Pipes and Taps pub, 231 Oak Park Blvd., Big Movies, Small Prices! Wednesdays... B.Y.O.B. .O.B. (Bring Your Own Bowl) Fill a bowl with popcorn for just $2.50 the maze runner: Scorch trialS September 18 hotel tranSylvania 2 September 25 $ Pop & Popcorn for Students get in for $6.50 Student Night General: $8.50 children (3-13): $6.50 Seniors (65+): $6.50 tuesdays: $5.00 Thursdays... 171 Speers Road (at Kerr) Oakville 905-338-6397 www.film.ca facebook.com/filmca @Filmcacinemas 2 each