Among friends
Pictou County dancers to represent Team Nova Scotia at championships
Local dancers heading to nationals
“An individual sport was good for me because it didn’t give me anyone to blame for my mistakes.” Emma Hines
Their bags are ready for packing and they are ready to go – all the way to Winnipeg as part of Team Nova Scotia.
Already Nova Scotia champion dancers, Emma Hines and Annika Murray of the Holly MacDonald-Bent School of Dance will be competing amongst Canada’s finest dancers at the Canadian Highland Dancing Championships July 6-10.
“It is just like a hockey team making it to nationals, but not a lot of people look at it that way,” said Hines, a Grade 11 student at Northumberland Regional High School.
Make that a really good hockey team since Hines, 16, is representing her province for the sixth time and Murray, 11, is making her fourth trip.
“I play hockey and I dance and more people think hockey is a big deal, but dance is a big deal too,” said Murray, adding that her coach and teammates do not always appreciate her choosing dance when she has a conflict.
Last year a social media discussion questioning whether dance was a sport spread like wildfire and Hines “got a little worked up” defending dance. Her detractors persisted and she was challenged to a danceoff in the lobby of her high school.
“I had no idea everyone in the school would show up. Administration thought it was a fight, but it was just me doing a few high cuts. I don’t know if I convinced them, but at least nobody is telling me it isn’t a sport anymore,” she said.
It is not a discussion unique to Pictou County. Scotland declared highland dance a competitive sport and a premiere dancer from New Zealand has called on her country to recognize dance as sport. With recognition comes the possibility of funding for development and travel.
Sport or no sport, it is practice, practice, practice for Hines and Murray.
“If you are going to have a bad day you don’t want it to be at nationals,” said Hines.
Murray was shocked by the calibre of dancers at her first nationals.
“I didn’t understand what I was getting into so I was disappointed not to win anything. It wasn’t until I went a second time that I really understood how good the dancers are. There is no one there that isn’t great to watch.”
Hines began dancing at an early age because her babysitter’s daughter was a dancer.
“I think I liked it from the start. I must have because my parents would not have kept me there. I tried ballet but it wasn’t busy enough for me and I didn’t like soccer, so I must have liked highland dance. An individual sport was good for me because it didn’t give me anyone to blame for my mistakes,” she joked.
Murray’s mother was a dancer in a family of dancers so that is how she was introduced.
“I’m sure I loved it from the very beginning because I love music. I sing and play fiddle and piano too,” said Murray, a Grade 5 French immersion student at West Pictou Consolidated.
What both girls learned very early is that they like to compete and even better, they like to win.
“It isn’t good to get too cocky, so I always tell myself I may not win, but if I do my very best, I could win,” said Hines.
Murray remembers her first prizes – two very respectable third-place finishes.
“There was a girl who won all firsts so when I came off the stage with my thirds, I told my mother that next time I was winning first and I did. I always dance for first.”
The girls joined the MacDonald-Bent dance school the same year and despite the difference in ages, they have developed a strong bond through classes and competitions. The first time Murray won a championship, it was Hines who picked up the hardware because Murray had to get to hockey.
Murray is Hines’ biggest fan, adding she goes to her when she needs anything.
“From when we started dancing together I always looked up to her, always watched how she did her steps. We’re kind of alike, both outgoing and both competitive, so we understand each other. If one of us forgets a piece of dress, the other just hands it over.”
Before she goes on the stage to dance, Hines looks for Murray.
“I always hug her and kiss her on the head. She rolls her eyes every time but she gives me confidence.”
When Hines is on stage, Murray will be somewhere near the front with an exaggerated grin on her face.
“I do that to remind Emma to smile because when’s she’s in a tough competition she can forget the smile and the judges don’t like frowns.”
During an extra pre-nationals class with the two dancers, MacDonald-Bent reluctantly admitted she has had dancers from her school compete at nationals since 1996.
“I hate to say it because I don’t want to jinx myself but I’ve had some great dancers. Annika and Emma have worked very hard to get to nationals each year and it takes a lot of support from parents at this level. I know they will represent Nova Scotia well and I wish them a great experience.”