Peace Fusion Dance kicks off 2025 with showcase and spotlight competitions 

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Peace Fusion Dance Company kicks off its 2025 season with two events to finish off January.

Its seventh annual showcase and spotlight dance competitions will be held on January 24th and 31st respectively at the North Peace Cultural Centre.

The company is open to competitive dancers in the Peace region, including Fort St. John, Fort Nelson and Dawson Creek. 

Members have travelled from as far as Grande Prairie and High Prairie to participate. 

Stephanie Baker started the troupe back in 2016 and founded the non-profit Peace Fusion Dance Society three years later. 

Her goal was simple: to offer a fully-funded dance program to those interested in the Peace region.

Almost a decade later, thanks to the society’s fundraising efforts, participants in the programs offered receive half of their season covered.

“Dance is such an expensive activity,” said Baker. “I will continue to find fundraising options so they can continue to do what they are so passionate about.

“I do my absolute best to make our season as affordable as possible while still offering a strong, competitive program.”

Baker says her time during the season is strictly volunteer work, claiming she invests over 200 hours during a calendar year.

With each of the 18 dancers from different dance studios, practice is limited to only the weekends, added Baker. 

That time has seen the company dance all across Canada and internationally, including trips to Red Deer and the BC Provincial Dance finals in Vancouver in 2024.

Baker says in previous years, the troupe has travelled to Seattle, Phoenix and San Diego.

“We only compete in bigger cities at high-calibre events,” explains Baker. “It’s important for the dancers to see all that is out there.

“The kids have had so many successes competing at these high-calibre events and have really made a name for themselves. I always say we are a small community with a deep passion for dance.”

Peace Fusion’s 2025 season will kick off with its annual showcase, held at the North Peace Cultural Centre on 10015 100th Avenue on Friday, January 24th at 7:00 p.m.

One week after, on January 31st,  the Spotlight Dance Competition will take place at the same venue and feature solo, duet and trio performances.

Baker highlights the second event, which will last until February 2nd, has almost 300 entries and 100 participants from around the Peace region. 

Sunday, February 2nd’s Solo Showdown is the chance for the top six in each category to dance off with almost $10,000 in cash and prizes on the line.

Tickets for both events can be purchased at the North Peace Cultural Centre box office or online through the Cultural Centre’s website. 

More information about the Peace Fusion Dance Company is available through its Facebook and Instagram pages.