For Stonewall’s Tennley Nickel, dancing isn’t just a hobby — it’s her world.
The 15-year-old first discovered her love for dance at just three years old after watching her older sister perform. Now, more than a decade later, she’s preparing for her AllStar competition debut in Toronto this summer.
Stonewall’s Tennley Nickel is headed to Toronto this summer after being named an AllStar dancer at the On The Floor competition earlier this March. Nickel performs her first-ever ballet solo
“I love my team and it’s a gift to be able to spend time with them every day,” Nickel said. “It’s a place where I can have fun and not worry about anything.”
Nickel trains and competes with Marquis Dance Academy, where she practises six days a week across seven styles of dance. While she enjoys all forms, hip hop and contemporary are her favourites.
“There is no right answer,” she said. “It’s easier to be free.”
Her season kicked off at the On The Floor dance competition, held March 11 to 13, where she performed in approximately 15 routines, ranging from solo and duet performances to small and large group numbers.
Nickel brought home an impressive list of results, including three titanium awards, two third-place finishes, a first-place duet and several top-three group placements.
But for Nickel, the biggest highlight went beyond the medals.
“I got to compete my first-ever ballet solo, and my duet partner Avery and I won our category — we’ve been undefeated for three years now,” she said. “But my proudest accomplishment was getting an AllStar Award.”
Her contemporary routine, The Beauty of Dissolving Portraits, was selected as one of just 10 standout performances out of more than 300 entries, earning her a coveted AllStar spot. The honour qualifies her to compete at the competition’s national finals in Toronto this July.
It will be her first time attending an event of that scale.
“I’m excited to showcase what I can do and meet other dancers who love it as much as I do,” she said. “There’s nothing like the feeling of being on stage — it makes you feel alive.”
Despite her success, Nickel admits the moments before stepping on stage can be challenging.
“I get waves of stress before I dance,” she said. “But I’m learning to focus on my breathing, give myself a pep talk and remember it’s just one competition.”
Her goal moving forward is simple: enjoy the moment.
“I want to have fun, not be so hard on myself and embrace every opportunity.”
Off the stage, Nickel is already looking for ways to give back. This summer, she plans to host her first dance camp for young dancers in the Stonewall or Balmoral area.
The camp will include a week-long session for children aged five to seven and another for those aged eight to 10, introducing participants to jazz, contemporary, hip hop and ballet. At the end of the week, Nickel hopes the dancers will be able to perform a short routine for family and friends.
Families interested in participating can email Stacey Nickel, Tennley’s mother, at Thehousepretty@gmail.com. More information will be shared closer to summer break.
“I am excited to see what will come out of this camp,” Tennley added. “Dancing and sharing my knowledge with others sounds like a dream to me.”
