Nanaimo dancer Kiana Smith is hoping her dance dreams come true.
She’s one of the top 20 senior dance finalists in the Dance Upon A Dream contest, an international online dance competition. The contest was created by Josh Horner, a judge on Australia’s Dancing with the Stars. The competition’s grand prize is a trip to New York City and three months tuition to train at Broadway Dance Centre.
The Nanaimo youth has two performances in the running: I’ve Gotta Crow and Tap. I’ve Gotta Crow is performed in musical theatre style and was choreographed by Donna Wilkins, through the Kirkwood Academy of Performing Arts. Tap was choreographed by Shay Kuebler through Vibe Dance Studio.
The winner will be determined by online votes. People can vote for Smith’s two performances at www.danceuponadream.com/entry/10128 and www.danceuponadream.com/entry/10099. The deadline to vote is Thursday (Dec. 20).
Smith has trained in numerous dance styles including ballet, jazz, musical theatre, tap, hip hop and contemporary. She also trained as a gymnast. She’s won provincial, national and world dance titles and the Surrey Dance Festival.
Dance has been part of Smith’s life from a young age. She started choreographing her own pieces at age six and started teaching other students when she was 12.