Lauren Frost has always had to manage a delicate balance between school and dance.
Spending an average of 13 hours each week at Acton’s Ambition Performing Arts Centre improving her skills means she has to be very disciplined with her school work, getting it done in whatever free time she has left.
Having started dance lessons when she was three, before she had even entered school, she’s become adept at it.
But soon she’ll face another challenge in making both work. Frost’s Grade 8 graduation falls on the same day she’s set to leave for the Dance World Cup in Prague, Czech Republic.
Leaving her graduation a little early will be the price to compete in the world’s largest dance competition, which will draw dancers from 46 countries.
“I’m looking forward to seeing all the other dancers,” she said. “It’s a good way to improve.”
Frost will compete for Canada in three different disciplines - ballet, jazz and contemporary. She gained her place on the Canadian team after evaluators saw her compete last year, earning a spot in the jazz solo category.
From there she attended an open audition, which led to an invitation to compete in ballet and contemporary as well. She will compete in nine different categories in all with solo, small group and large group.
“I like dancing solo because it really pushes you,” she said, “but in groups, you get to dance with your friends.”
With routines to learn for nine categories, preparation has been intense. But Frost said retaining the routines isn’t the hardest part.
“Once you learn it, it’s just muscle memory,” she said. “The hard part is the stamina - just getting through it. It uses a lot of body strength.”
The Dance World Cup takes place from June 27 to July 6.
Melinda Garvie, artistic director at Ambition Performing Arts Centre, said Frost is so deserving of the opportunity to compete abroad as she's a "hard-working and dedicated student."
"We are so proud of Lauren for being accepted onto the Canadian team and for representing her country and our studio on the world stage," she said, noting Frost's work ethic and commitment to training has helped her develop as a dancer over the past six years with the local studio.
"Ambition will be cheering her on from home the whole time and we cannot wait to see her shine."
