A local dancer is en route to Canada’s National Ballet School for a month-long intensive dance program this summer.
Lola Hildebrand, 9, is heading to Toronto on July 3 to spend about a month with Canada’s dancing elite. She was one of just 150 to 175 young dancers across Canada chosen for the program.
“I hope it would open a door for me so everyone can know who I am and that I love dance,” Lola said.
The dancer will spend the four weeks of the program living in residence in Toronto.
“At some point you just kind of have to let them do it, let them go or else they’re going to just be held back,” said Monica Hildebrand, Lola’s mother and owner of Grand River Dance Academy. “And what an amazing opportunity for her.”
Lola began dancing when she was just 18 months old with her mom’s studio.
“[She] danced in front of the stage and people started clapping and she stopped,” Monica said with a laugh. “She was just kind of doing her own thing.
“She’s been basically in the recital ever since.”
And Lola practices all types of dance including tap, jazz, ballet, contemporary, acro and hip-hop.
Lola has also completed dance exams in jazz, tap and ballet.
“She’s always gotten distinctions and honours and … high marks and … the examiners always mention or have something to say about her,” Monica said.
“So I was kind of like … let’s give this a shot and see if it’s just in my mind or if … out there she’s really good.”
Lola auditioned for the National Ballet’s summer program on Jan. 5 in Waterloo and found out the same day that she was accepted.
“I was very surprised,” Lola said. “Because some things I kind of … messed up a little but then I felt like I was and I wasn’t going to make it.
“But when I found out I made it I was just like so proud and the first person I looked at was my mom.”
Monica was in the viewing gallery and watched her daughter dance her way into the National Ballet School program.
“I don’t know if I made her more nervous being there, not just being a mom but being her dance teacher too, … I know there were a couple times where she looked over and she was like … ‘stop’,” Monica said. “If I saw her I’d make gestures to kind of like either drop your shoulders or point your toes.
“But I mean it’s all her … she’s a way better dancer than I ever was.”
Being a part of the National Ballet summer program is just the first step in Lola’s dancing plan. She wants to eventually attend Canada’s National Ballet School and dance for the Nation Ballet of Canada upon graduation.
Yet dance is more than just a passion for Lola – it also helps with her overall health.
“Sometimes it helps me focus on other things,” she said. “Like if I’m stressed sometimes I just need to like dance a little and then I’m back on (track.)”
Monica is planning to organize a dance workshop day in February or March to help fundraise for Lola’s summer program tuition.
They have also set up a fundraising page at www.crowdrise.com/send-lola-to-canadas-national-ballet-school.
