She, as a talented young lady from Paris, Ontario in Brant and a student at Sacred Heart School, is living her dream!

In November, she will be flying to Poland for The World Ballet and Jazz competition of the International Dance Organization, selected as a member of Team Canada. The International Dance Organization has over 250 000-member dancers from 6 continents. This exciting World Championship format is Olympic Style with only one Gold, Silver and Bronze being presented on the Podium with the World Champions National Anthem being played as the top three medalist flags are raised.

“I am excited to go to Poland with my team, my new friends and my family. I have butterflies, but I am training so much I am just going day to day on what to I have to do.” – Carrigan Craigie

11 year-old Carrigan was attending a competition as a presenter for TDR Scholarships to their summer internship for solo awards at the Hamilton competition. She had earned that invitation by competing in a ‘Face of The Dance Rage’ photo event. Christie McKay, Team Canada director and Jazz choreographer, was attending the competition, as a scout, and offering personal invitations to soloists to audition for Team Canada Dance.  McKay was asked if she would consider offering Carrigan a chance to audition. Carrigan did an on-the-spot simple audition and interview in the lobby. As a result, she was offered an invitation to audition for Jazz and Ballet for Team Canada Dance on March 25th. 

Team Canada Dance did intensive training from Aug 1-10 for choreography 8-9 hours a day. Carrigan will be preforming in large and small groups for Ballet, Jazz and Modern, she was offered a 1 of 3 solo spots for a ballet solo which is being choreographed by Cintia Hamer from Micki’s Dance connection in Brantford. Carrigan’s currently dancing 9 hours at her studio and another 8-10 hours per week for Team Canada Dance, while attending Sacred Heart Catholic school full time in grade 6. 

Carrigan is leaving on November 27^th, travelling with the entire Ballet and Jazz team to Warsaw Poland and then to Rawa Mazowiecka, 30 minutes outside of Warsaw. She will rehearse November 28-29th and begin to compete on November 30 in ballet and December 2 in Jazz and the finals will be on December 4 to December 6 with Modern performance to December 9 returning home on December 10th. 

“My dream is I would like to go to the National School of Ballet in Toronto, train with Gerard McIsaac, perform in the Nutcracker and Swan Lake and someday compete on World of Dance.” – Carrigan Craigie

Of course she will.

Extensive local training at Micki’s Dance Connection, with dance instructor and choreographer, Cintia Hamer, family support, personal commitment, and opportunity were keys in this journey.

Many of her family as seen in this two-year old photo, will be travelling as her personal cheering team to Poland.

Go for Gold Carrigan! The entire community of Brant is cheering you on!