PORT McNEILL—To the blare of the bagpipes and the applause of the audience, young Highland Dancers from Vancouver Island and beyond displayed their skill Saturday in the fifth annual Mount Waddington Highland Dance competition at North Island Secondary School.
From five- and six-year-old primary beginners to world-championship caliber performers, the dancers competed across a range of dances for medals, trophies, cash prizes and bursaries.
A special choreography classification was presented between morning and afternoon session. In the choreography, held for both individuals and groups, competitors were able to swap their kilts and vests for interpretive costumes, and some added elements of ballet and even country swing into routines.
Aggregate point titles were awarded in all competition categories from beginner to premier, and other trophies were given for combined points.
The Pat Prestwich trophy for novice confined Mount Waddington high points was awarded to Kimberly Kufaas of Port Hardy.
The Sandra Gunson intermediate confined Mount Waddington high points trophy went to Eileah Cotter of Port Hardy.
Other top winners were: Kate Findlay of Nanaimo, aggregate winner in the Beginner 9-under class; Danielle Wigard of Port Hardy, aggregate winner in the Beginner 10-over class; Trinity LaRose of Nanaimo, aggregate winner in the Novice 11-under class; Kufaas, in the Novice 12-over class; Freya Mooseburger of Comox, aggregate winner in the Intermediate class; Cameron Kearns of Courtenay, aggregate winner in the Premier 8-13 class; Melissa Carnegie of Calgary, aggregate winner in the Premier 14-15 class; and Samantha Beach of Nanaimo, aggregate winner in the Premier 16-over class.
Carnegie was runner-up in the world championships at the junior level this year, and Ross Armour of Vancouver, another former world championship place-winner, also returned to compete in the event.
HIGHLAND DANCE
5th Annual Mount Waddington Highland Dance Association
competition
Sept. 21
Primary
Pas de Basques: 1. Paisley Barolet, Port McNeill. Pas de Basques and High Cuts: 1. Barolet. Fling: 1. Mecca Humphrey, Port Hardy. Sword: Kaia Mackay, Port McNeill.
Beginner 9-under
Fling: 1. Emma Harrison, Port Hardy. Sword: 1. Kate Findlay, Nanaimo. Seann Truibhas: 1. Findlay. Lilt: 1. Hannah Purtle, Nanaimo. Flora: 1. Findlay. Aggregate: Findlay.
Beginner 10-over
Fling: 1. Abigail Robinson, Courtenay. Sword: 1. Danielle Wigard, Port Hardy. Seann Truibhas: 1. Caitlyn Tack, Comox. Lilt: 1. Wigard. Flora: 1. Wigard. Aggregate: Wigard.
Novice 11-under
Fling: 1. Trinity LaRose, Nanaimo. Sword: 1. LaRose. Seann Truibhas: 1. LaRose. Lilt: 1. Timeranda Draper, Courtenay. Flora: 1. Draper. Aggregate: LaRose
Novice 12-over
Fling: 1. Kimberley Kufaas, Port Hardy. Sword: 1. Mollie Johnson, Port Hardy. Seann Truibhas: 1. Robyn Kufaas, Port Hardy. Lilt: 1. K. Kufaas. Flora: 1. Johnson. Aggregate: K. Kufaas.
Choreography
Group: Hillbilly Highland, Team Charlton.
Individual: Anissa Jahromi, Nanaimo.
Intermediate
Fling: 1. Eileah Cotter, Port Hardy. Sword: 1. Freya Mooseburger, Comox. Seann Truibhas: 1. Mooseburger. Laddie: 1. Mooseburger. Lilt: 1. Mooseburger. Aggregate: Mooseburger.
Premier 8-13
All events: 1. Cameron Kearns, Courtenay. Aggregate: Kearns.
Premier 14-15
Fling: 1. Melissa Carnegie, Calgary. Sword: 1. Anissa Jahromi, Nanaimo. Seann Truibhas, Blue Bonnets, Village Maid, Aggregate: Carnegie.
Additional results available at: www.mwhda.org