A local dancer who is not overly obsessed with competition and results is one of the best dancers in the country.
Brooke Sonnenberg, 17, has been a dance student at Tapps Performing Arts since she was six. She started competing when she was nine.
"She was a natural talent," said her dance teacher, Emily Battalia.
Last summer, Sonnenberg placed fifth with her contemporary solo at the View Dance Challenge Nationals in Whistler, B.C., after placing first at a qualifying event in Toronto.
"Honestly, I don't care about placing. When I go to a competition, it's the last thing I think about," Sonnenberg said.
Battalia said that attitude is "one of the reasons why she is successful."
"She actually just loves to dance."
The Grade 12 Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School student dances Tuesday and Thursday nights for five hours each. Additionally, she trains for her solo work, duet, group, and line dances.
"I like dance because it gives me an outlet for expression. Not all communication is verbal. You can communicate a lot through dance," Sonnenberg said in the studio.
"If I'm at dance, I'm not thinking about things outside of dance. I'm not stressing about homework. It goes away while we are here."
She has studied all forms of dance offered at the studio: ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, open (combination style) and acro, but she has a favourite: contemporary.
"It's more about movement and being expressive and creative and not as technical and full of tricks," she said.
"We love her tilt jumps. She cares about being technical, she pays attention to detail, she pushes her body hard and she's also really artistic," Battalia added.
"She's got the full scope of what it is to be a good dancer."
Sonnenberg said years in the studio have helped her develop and strengthen her character.
"I used to be the kid who would run off stage, forgetting my dance, but now I'm confident in what I do," she said.
Tapps takes part in six competitive events between March and May. Sonnenberg is competing with nine dances — two solos, a duet and six group and line dances.
The studio competed in the Star Beat Dance Champions event in Vaughan over the weekend where there were 1,000 entrants. Tapps represents 70 of those.
In the fall, she will attend Western University to study media, information and techno-culture.
"Western has a vibrant dance culture," Battalia said, noting Sonnenberg will be auditioning for one of the three high-level, competitive troupes.
"She'll be on one of them."
"I'll be dancing next year, for sure," Sonnenberg added.
Tapps is celebrating its 25th anniversary. This year's recital will be held May 23 and 24 at the Orillia Opera House. Sonnenberg will be performing a solo and in group dances along with her fellow dancers.
Tickets are available through the Orillia Opera House website.
