Westland Dance Co. wraps up banner year with ‘tough’ competition in Red Deer

A memorable season for Rocky Mountain House’s Westland Dancing Company wrapped up with a season-ending competition in Red Deer during the May 8-10 weekend.

Following strong performances at previous meets in Olds, Medicine Hat and Sherwood Park, the team posted mixed results at Standing Ovation, held at the iHotel and Conference Centre Red Deer.

Westland placed well in Division 1 for dancers aged 8-11, finishing first overall and earning a $500 cash award.

Division 1 also earned several genre-specific accolades, including top overall ballet group and top overall jazz group, along with top honours in acro, contemporary and musical theatre.

In Division 2, the team did not place in the finals, but did earn a top overall choreography award.

“This was a tough competition for sure,” said Keanna Campbell, an instructor at Westland Dancing Company. “We were up against kids who train longer hours, but we were pretty proud of the way our kids held their own.”

Two students also finished the season with notable scholarships.

Gracie Campbell and Blake Souster earned a $2,500 scholarship to the prestigious Be Discovered program, which hosts workshops in New York, Paris and Los Angeles.

Another pair of local dancers, Abby Chant and Addison Giesbrecht, earned a scholarship to participate with Team Canada at the 2027 World Championships.

Division1group edit — First place group from Standing Ovations in Red Deer, AB. L-R: Everly Schisan, Addison Giesbrecht, Piper Osborne, Elianna Jones, Lillian Meschishnick, Kenzie Cooley, Zella Landry, Blake Souster. (Westland Dancing Company)

GracieCampbell edit — Gracie Campbell, $2500 Be Discovered scholarship winner. (Westland Dancing Company)

BlakeSouster edit — Blake Souster, $2500 Be Discovered scholarship winner. (Westland Dancing Company)

Strong season overall

Campbell said the 2026 season was monumental for the group.

After first-place finishes in Medicine Hat and Olds, along with strong results in Sherwood Park and Red Deer, she said the team broke new ground for a Rocky Mountain House-based dance studio.

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Group to attend championship in late May

While the season may be over for some dancers, a group from April’s grand championship-winning competition in Medicine Hat will compete in finals later this month in Edmonton.

Campbell said the Crystal Classic Grand Championship is a prestigious competition featuring top-performing studios from Alberta and British Columbia.

Westland’s Level 5 “I Will Walk With You” routine will compete at the Crystal Classic Grand Championship, which runs May 29-31.