March 5-7, 2009 Terpsichore Competition Results All of our dancers demonstrated their exceptional talent in the pieces performed at the competition. Congratulations! Over $1900 was awarded in cash prizes. In addition, Charlene Gibbons received a $300 scholarship toward a summer dance workshop. Award winning pieces and ratings are as follows: Re-creation: Superior (senior overall 16 yrs & over duet/trio) Lost: Superior (2nd senior solo overall - Charlene Gibbons) Ritual: Superior (3rd overall 13-15 yrs inter large group) Pirates of the Caribbean: Superior (2nd overall 13-15 yrs inter large group) Procession: Excellence (bringing real art to the stage; 1st overall novice group) Baroque Experience: Outstanding (simply heavenly; 1st overall 13-15 yrs inter large group; Terpsichore Terrific Troupe - $1000 award!!!) Breathe Me: Superior (use of breath oxygen) When I Grow Up: Superior (Senior Terpsichore Terrific Troupe - $500 award) Elite: Superior (1st overall 16 yrs & over small group) Special Upcoming Competitions Chrissy Burrows, Charlene Gibbons and Austin Sora will be competing at the Youth America Grand Prix Ballet Competition in San Diego, CA over March Break. They will also participate in workshops led by renowned dancers and instructors from prestigious ballet companies, such as American Ballet Theatre and New York City Ballet. We will be with them in spirit. Charlene Gibbons will also be competing for the Dancer of the Year award at the Luv 2 Dance Competition in Niagara Falls in April. We at PSB wish our three competitors the best of luck! Principal Dancer, Chan Hon Goh Guest Teaches at PSB PSB had the pleasure and the honour to welcome Chan Hon Goh, Principal Dancer with the National Ballet of Canada, as guest teacher on February 14. The experience was memorable for the intensive dance students and the dancers were thrilled to receive an autographed book of Chan's autobiography, Beyond the Dance: A Ballerina's Life, which she co-wrote with Cary Fagan. Students Attend Mia Michaels Workshop In October 2008, Profile Company Dance members attended an all-day workshop and talk session led by "So You Think You Can Dance Canada" judge and choreographer Mia Michaels. PSB Alumna Lexi Haslam is The Raptors Fans Choice After graduating from PSB, Lexi went on to study at Sir Wilfrid Laurier University, where she earned her Honours BA in Communications with a minor in Psychology. Post graduation, Lexi auditioned for the Raptors Dance Pak and in the Fall of 2008 she was the People Dance Pak Choice to become the final member of the Raptors Dance Pak. Congratulations Lexi! Students Study in France Erin Poole recently joined Allison Gibbons in France to study with Thierry LeFloch at the Academie Mediterranean in Marseille, where both girls participated in the 2008 Summer Dance to France program. Allison began her study program at the Academie the second week of September, 2008. Both Allison and Erin are doing well auditioning and competing for companies all over Europe. The girls are sorely missed by everyone at PSB, but we are all proud of their achievements and wish them the best! Muskoka Gala 2008 Congratulations to all PSB dancers who performed in Orillia. In the competition, PSB entered four pieces, with results as follows: Miss Stephanie's pointe trio danced by Charlene Gibbons, Austin Sora, and Chrissy Burrows scored 95 and won the Highest Senior Trio Award Miss Stephanie's Princess Irina performed by Erin Poole scored 92 and was awarded Adjudicators Best Senior Solo Technique Award Miss Karen's Handel's Baroque Minuet danced by Amy Loyst scored 90 and won the High Senior Pointe Solo Award Miss Karen's Buddy danced by Elizabeth Foran scored 95 and won the $500 Most Potential Scholarship. In addition, choreography awards were given as follows: Breakaway by Shannon Berry: best use of music The End by Cassandra Geisel: best use of costume Megan's Dance by Tasha Rickman: best choreography and the adjudicators' choice award. The following performance pieces were danced magnificently at the Gala and were well received by the audience: Miss Stephanie's Rite of Spring Miss Karen's Baroque Experience and Pirates of the Caribbean Miss Christina's Fields of Gold, Breathe Me, Never Let You Fall, and All I See Mrs. K's Coppelia Mazurka was a crowd pleaser with its colourful costumes and incredible footwork Special thanks to the adjudicators, workshop teachers and National Ballet School teachers: Jane Wooding, Glenn Gilmour, Gizella Witkowski, Laurel Toto, Raymond Smith, and the Director of the Gala, Brenda Cunningham Moran. PSB Accomplishments Congratulations to the following students, staff and alumni: Leigh-Anne Canner: trained in the National Ballet School full time 2008-2009 professional program and is now back at PSB Alexandra Berry and Celine Thomas: enjoyed NBS Summer School 2009 and are now back at PSB Christine Dobbin and Charlene Gibbons: studying dance at Ryerson University (Christine - 2nd yr; Charlene - 1st yr) Allison Gibbons: attending University of Toronto; teaching and training at PSB Erin Poole: teaching and training at PSB Courtney Holland and Abbey Jurgeneit: re-accepted to the NBS Full Time Professional Program (Courtney - Grade 12; Abbey - Grade 8); Abbey performed in the 2008 National Ballet Company of Canada Nutcracker performance Angie Kourkounakis: completed the 3-year NBS Teachers Training Program Amy Regan: in her 3rd year at the NBS Teachers Training Program Jannine Saarinen: choreographing and dancing for independent Toronto dance companies. Back to Top

photos of Allison & Erin by Photomega