By Melissa Macintosh-Young, Staff Reporter
Autumn Hopkins and Shaye Walters, who both train at Xpressions Dance in Bruderheim, proudly represented Team Canada at one of the world’s largest and most prestigious dance competitions.
Competing against talented dancers from around the globe, the pair delivered impressive performances across multiple disciplines.
Their biggest achievement came as members of Team Canada’s jazz showstopper group, which captured the bronze medal with a third-place finish. The performance earned Canada its fourth medal of the competition, marking a significant accomplishment on the international stage.
When asked what the best thing about the experience was, Autumn said, “My favourite thing about our trip to Ireland was trading pins with 60 different counties. I got to meet dancers from all over the world, including dancing with girls from all across Canada. I just love dancing so much.
“I made so many new friends and I feel so blessed that I was given such an amazing opportunity. I’m also so grateful for my dance teachers at Xpressions and the encouragement they kept giving me over FaceTime even though I’m across the world. So, we dance with ‘world performers’ at the ‘Dance World Cup’ which is the second biggest event after Olympics. There are 60 counties here!”
Shaye replied, “My favourite thing was getting to meet dancers from all over the world, while performing in Dublin on a world stage.”
Both dancers also earned Top 10 finishes in their solo events. Shaye Walters placed 10th in the Acro category, while Autumn Hopkins finished 10th in Hip Hop, showcasing their versatility and dedication in highly competitive fields.
Representing Canada at the Dance World Cup is an achievement in itself, requiring months of training, commitment and qualification.
For Autumn and Shaye, their success reflects not only their hard work, but also the strength of the dance program at Xpressions Dance Studio.
Racquel Strickland is an instructor at Xpressions Dance Studio. “Xpressions is incredibly proud that four of our dancers were invited to perform in Ireland this year. Their dedication, hard work, and leadership both in and out of the studio make them outstanding ambassadors for our team.
“Shaye and Autumn, who attended, represented Xpressions with excellence, and we couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishments.”
Their accomplishments have made their families, coaches and the Lamont community proud, proving that small-town talent can compete with the very best in the world.
Read this and much more in the July 15 edition of The Lamont Leader!
