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Dance brings art to life in BDA’s Night at the Museum

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The Bermuda Dance Academy will take the stage at The Berkeley Institute Cafetorium on Saturday (Photograph supplied)

Sanziniah Raynor spends a lot of time in the dance studio and it is paying off for the 13-year-old, who is regularly invited to perform on stage.

In February she was at a convention in Chicago, Illinois; on Bermuda Day she danced her way through Hamilton; on Saturday, she will be on stage as part of Bermuda Dance Academy’s recital, Night at the Museum.

It will be difficult for anyone who attends the show to miss the rising star. Sanziniah, who takes ballet, hip-hop, modern, jazz, acrobatics and tap classes, will perform in 13 pieces.

How does she keep it all straight? “I practise a lot,” said the teenager, who is looking forward to showing off her talent.

The Bermuda Dance Academy will take the stage at The Berkeley Institute Cafetorium on Saturday (Photograph supplied)

Pictures and museum artefacts will come to life in the show.

“I think that people will really enjoy it. We try to give a different spin on the recital every year and I think that it will definitely be great. The kids have worked really, really hard,” said Nikia Manders, BDA’s owner, head teacher and choreographer.

“Audiences are in for a treat as they witness captivating performances that breathe life into treasures from various museums, showcasing the diversity and beauty of cultures and historical periods. From the wonders of space to the rich African diaspora legacy, the vibrant rhythms of Caribbean history, the mysteries of the ocean, and the essence of art, this event will take you on a unique journey.”

Yannick Rochester, Savannah Denkins, Aviya Mills and Riley Evans are also part of BDA’s ninth annual recital. Like Sanziniah, they are part of the company’s Performance Team, a select group of dancers that travelled to Chicago for the Adrenaline Dance Convention and Competition in February.

“Each dancer has an outstanding work ethic, is exceptionally talented, and is committed to the art of dance,” Ms Manders said.

“They will all perform in four to 13 dances at the recital. These talented dancers also performed in last week's Bermuda Day Parade and attended a competition and convention in Chicago in February. Our goal is to prepare our dancers for the local and international stages while also working hard to improve their technical abilities. Dance is a powerful tool that we use to help students develop self-esteem, discipline, creativity, and confidence.”

Yannick, a dance student at BDA since the age of seven, takes classes in jazz, modern, acrobatics and ballet.

The 13-year-old will take the stage seven times at each of the two concerts on Saturday.

At age six, Aviya Mills is the youngest in the group. She will be performing in three of the dances.

“I take ballet, jazz, hip-hop, modern and acrobatics,” she said.

The Bermuda Dance Academy will take the stage at The Berkeley Institute Cafetorium on Saturday (Photograph supplied)

Meanwhile, Savannah Denkins, 14, has been dancing for half her life. She tried out for the Performance Team hoping she would be chosen and was happy when she was.

“It’s really good to be on the Performance Team. In Chicago, we participated in a competition,” she said.

The teenager will perform in eight dances in the recital, including one with the rest of the Performance Team.

Although she is a teacher’s assistant at BDA it might not be a path she follows in the long term.

“I'm not really sure what I want to do yet,” Savannah said.

Riley Evans, 8, has been dancing since she was a toddler.

Ballet, hip-hop, tap, jazz and acrobatics occupy her time in the studio.

Her time in Chicago was “fun” and prepared her for the eight dances she will perform in on Saturday.

“I worked hard,” she said of her time in the US. “I did a few dances with different people.”

The Bermuda Day Parade was a first for the young dancer, who would happily do it again despite the heat.

“I was really nervous and excited at the same time,” she said.

The Bermuda Dance Academy will take the stage at The Berkeley Institute Cafetorium on Saturday (Photograph supplied)

None of it would have been possible without the students’ “exceptional teachers” – Linda Manders, Ashley Smith, Shawnae Brangman and Coral Waddell – and the support received from BDA parents, dancers and administrative team, Ms Manders said.

“It’s great to see children work so hard and have parents that support them. And all of our teachers have also done an exceptional job. I'm excited.”

• Night at the Museum takes place on Saturday at 2pm and 7pm at The Berkeley Institute Cafetorium. Tickets are available at www.ptix.bm or by contacting Bermuda Dance Academy on 799-7760 or bermudadanceacademy@gmail.com. General admission tickets are $30; patron tickets are $60

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Published June 03, 2024 at 8:00 am (Updated June 04, 2024 at 8:04 am)

Dance brings art to life in BDA’s Night at the Museum

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