Liv Dance Company recently wrapped up a successful season with its fourth annual recital and a strong showing on the competition stage.
The junior contemporary group performs The Cave during the recital, showcasing expressive movement and storytelling through dance
“We opened Liv Dance in the fall of 2021 after the previous studio closed and their space was sold,” shared studio director Jill Livingstonin an email interview.
Since then, Liv Dance Co. has quickly grown into a regional hub for young dancers. Students travel from Carman and surrounding communities including Elm Creek, Roland, Miami, Notre Dame, St. Claude, Sperling, Somerset and even as far as Crystal City.
Held at the PW Enns Concert Hall, the 2025 recital featured dancers ranging in age from two to 18, along with an adult tap class. The performance showcased a wide variety of styles including tap, jazz, ballet, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, musical theatre and acro.
This year’s recital theme, “Seasons of Dance,” was also the inspiration behind a custom T-shirt collaboration with Christa from @christaldl_designs.
“The idea behind the collaboration with Christal came about last year when we decided to have recital shirts available for the students. We wanted the design for the programs and the shirts to be the same as our theme,” said Livingston. “Christal came up with a design for the show and we used this on our programs and shirts. This year we asked her to do this again and she came up with a beautiful design for the theme which was Seasons of Dance.”
The shirts featured the themed design on the front and the names of all the dancers on the back. “This has been very popular with the dancers and we see the dancers out in the community wearing their shirts. It is important to us to work with local businesses as much as possible,” said Livingston.
Liv Dance Co. also made its mark at four competitions this season, including the return of the Manitoba Dance Festival.
Highlights from the season include:
• Send Me On My Way (Mini Comp Ballet): CNDC Judges Award, 2nd Overall Mini Novice Small Group
• Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Mini Comp Tap): CNDC Judges Award, 1st Overall Mini Novice Group
• Think: Terpsichore 3rd Overall Novice Solo
• A Day for the Cat and the Hat (Bekka Solo): Terpsichore Judges Award, 4th Overall Novice Solo, CSDC 2nd Overall Junior Novice Solo
• A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall (Inter Comp Contemporary): OTF Judges Award, OTF 1st Overall Pre-Comp Junior Large Group, Terpsichore Judges Award, CNDC Session Choreography Award
• Take Me Home Country Roads (Inter/Sr Large Group): CNDC Judges Award
• Hide and Seek (Cora and Danyka Duet): OTF 3rd Overall Pre-Comp Duet/Trio, CSDC Judges Award
• Little Wonders (Rylee, Milania, Téya Trio): Terpsichore 2nd Overall Novice Trio, CNDC 1st Overall Junior Novice Trio
• Season of the Witch (Cora Solo): CNDC Junior Acro High Score
• Smooth Criminal (Ava Solo): CNDC Senior Tap High Score
• Rumour Has It (Senior Company Jazz): CNDC Judges Award
• Everybody Knows (Senior Company Contemporary): OTF 3rd Overall Senior Pre-Comp Small Group, CNDC 3rd Overall Senior Competitive Group, CNDC Senior Contemporary High Score
• Looking ahead, Liv Dance Co. is planning to run three summer dance camps and will soon release its 2025–26 season schedule.
“The best way to keep up with us is to follow us on social media—Instagram @livdancecompany, Facebook @livdanceco. You can also go to our website, livdancecompany.com, to register and learn more about us!” the studio shared.
