Blending dance, acrobatics and circus arts on apparatus such as the hammock or the suspended hoop, Fly Dance SXM school is preparing to take three athletes to Italy. Joséphine Tellier Ourson, 11 years old, Lou Leculier, 15 years old, and their teacher Alyona Zhdanova will represent France and Saint-Martin at the World Championships in Cesenatico, near Bologna, from October 28 to November 1.
The adventure began in Martinique for the local school, during the regional competitions. All seven students who participated reached the podium, earning them a place at the French championships, held online this year. There, their hard work paid off once again: five gold medals, one silver, and most importantly, a selection to the French team for the ultimate challenge… the world championships!
Josephine will compete in the “Junior A Amateur” hammock event, Lou in the “Junior B Elite” hoop event, while Alyona will participate in the “Master 40+ Amateur” category, both in the hammock and hoop events. Each will have 3 minutes and 20 seconds to convince the judges.
For Alyona, who has practiced pole dancing for 13 years and aerial dance for nine, this selection is also a way to gauge her students' level against the international standard. The most important thing is to have fun, with toes on and legs straight! "I always tell my students: imagine you're all alone on stage, or that you're dancing in your kitchen," the teacher assures with a smile.
The total budget for the trip is €6.450. Already supported by the SXM Festival for accommodation, the school is still seeking funding to cover expenses such as local transportation, costumes, and competition registration fees. _DR
For donations, please contact: [email protected] or +590 6 90 43 57 77
