NASSAU, BAHAMAS — On Saturday February 26, 2022, the first annual H.Y.P.E (Helping Young Performers Excel) Dance Competition was held at the Grand Lucayan Ballroom in Freeport, Grand Bahama.
The competition featured eleven solo entries, two small group dances and three large group dances.
Before the competition, the contestants participated in a master class taught by dance instructor Richard Christie from Nassau, New Providence. The master class was quite the experience as dancers had fun as well as learned new techniques.
Dancers from Bahamas Dance Theatre (Freeport, Grand Bahama) and Pulse Dance Company (Nassau, New Providence) were awarded both for their hard work and overall participation.
Pulse Dance Company came out on top, securing three top awards.
Bahamas Dance Theatre secured two top awards.
The winners from each category were:
- Beginner Solo winner — Stepharrah McInTosh
- Primary H.Y.P.E Solo winner — Lotus Moncur
- Junior Solo winner — Trinity Burnside
- Open Solo winner — Hannah O’Conno
- Small Group winner — “Mama”
- Large Group winner — “Maniac”
Stepharrah McIntosh, from Bahamas Dance theatre, was the top-scoring soloist.
“Maniac”, performed by the dancers of Pulse Dance Company, was the top-scoring group performance.
The event was sponsored by Aliv, Sawyer’s Fresh Market, the Meat Market, Pi Upsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc, Preston Knowles, Baha Green Compostables and the Grand Bahama Port Authority. A huge amount of gratitude was given to the sponsors and to Pulse Dance Studio for traveling to share their passion for the art.
