Kelsey Graham on stage at Edge School in Calgary in April 2019. -- SUBMITTED PHOTO
When parents noticed Kelsey Graham dancing around the house at the age of two and registered her in her first dance lesson, no one could predict the way her senior year, 15 years later, would play out.
Marred by restrictions surrounding COVID-19, dancers have vacated studios in exchange for training in their basements or garages under the tutelage of a glowing laptop screen propped precariously in front of them as their coaches strain to examine technique within the confines of a 15-inch frame. While it is not the ideal environment, virtual online training has allowed Graham to continue training in her specialties of contemporary dance and hip hop, and to receive the important reminders from coaches to keep stretching, stay limber and strong, and practice technique in preparation for a potential return to competition.
The competitive dance season is almost upon us, as it takes place throughout the springtime. There is unfortunately little indication that restrictions will be loosened enough to hold typical competitions this year and Graham is preparing herself to accept that she may never realize the fruits of her labour that brought her to her final competition season.
“We train throughout the year to be our best during competition season, but we train throughout our lives to be the best in our final year, and that is being taken away from all of us senior dancers,” says Graham. “But we recognize that it is the same across the board. Athletes are missing their draft years for hockey, university sports and more. One whole year of athletic progress is just being wiped off the slate. For some of us, it is our final year, but for others it is just delayed. But we are all in the same boat for now, so it is easier to accept since we are not alone.”
A home-grown Hatter, Graham spent the majority of her dancing career at Limelitez Dance Academy and credits instructors Jerredi Hauck, Teigen Dobbin and Meagan Jensen for inspiring her to begin dancing on the competition circuit when she was just seven years old. Coaches have identified Graham as a person younger dancers look up to. She is known as a great ‘hype-man’ who is sportsmanlike and always willing to help others out. She won the studio’s first MVP award at 14 years of age.
Now at the tender age of 17, Graham shows maturity and vision by living with the motto of “no regrets.” Training sometimes four to five hours per night in preparation for competition has led to some of the most rewarding friendships and experiences of her young life. She was able to meet her idol – Los Angeles-based Hip Hop dancer Comfort Fedoke. She spent countless hours travelling with teammates, sometimes to competitions as far away as Las Vegas, Nev. In addition, she formed lasting bonds with her coaches and mentors along the way.
While a tiny spark of hope still exists for a final competition season, Graham is looking forward to the future by sashaying into the role of coach/instructor. She has currently completed the first year of a three-year instructor certification program that will conclude when she is 19 years old. Once complete, she will be eligible to teach tap and jazz to all ages.
Graham has this advice to young dancers: “Don’t compare yourself to everyone else – everyone blossoms at different times. Everyone has their moment and their time when they are at the top of their game.” In relation to COVID-19, she adds, “Everyone is trying their best right now, we all need to stick together and keep working hard because there will be a light at the end of the tunnel. If we keep going strong, we’ll be able to come out the end stronger than ever. If COVID stops us this year, there is absolutely no stopping you next year.”
Terra Petryshyn is a former Recreation Programmer and now a community member of the Females in Action Moving and Empowering Committee. She can be reached at terpet@medicinehat.ca.
