By Steve Hubrecht
A Columbia Valley dancer will be on stage at the Juno Awards this coming weekend in Vancouver.
Amber Jefferson has been dancing for as long as she can remember – since she was just three years old. She’s danced all over the Columbia Valley, at B.C. provincials, and even spent a year in Calgary when she was in Grade 11 pursuing her passion for dance. But this coming Sunday, March 30 will be her biggest performance yet when she takes the stage during the Juno Awards ceremony.
The chance comes after a completely unexpected offer to participate, following a dance competition in Kamloops just a few weeks ago.
Local residents in the valley have created a GoFundMe campaign to help Jefferson cover the cost of the trip.
“Amber has been an amazing role model for the younger girls in dance through the years. She’s just an all-around great person. You can tell how much she loves dance,” GoFundMe campaign organizer Kate Frew told the Pioneer.
Jefferson grew up dancing with the local United Dance studio, which recently changed owners and is now renamed Krush Dance. Her talent was evident as a youngster, prompting her move to Alberta for a year to further her dance training. She returned to the valley for her final year at David Thompson Secondary School (DTSS), graduating two years ago, and has been a dance teacher for the past several years.
A few weeks ago the Krush dancers were at a competition in Kamloops. There was an adult category and Jefferson, who is 20, decided to enter it. For her solo she danced to the song ‘Pink Skies’ by country singer Zach Bryan. ‘Pink Skies’ holds special meaning to Jefferson – her mom passed away last year, and the song played during the funeral. Jefferson dedicated her performance in Kamloops to her mom.
After the dance one of the competition adjudicators reached out to Jefferson, asking if she was interested in dancing at the Junos.
“It was such a shock. I’m still kind of in shock. It’s crazy,” Jefferson told the Pioneer. “It’s all happened so fast. It’s certainly not something I ever expected.”
Jefferson departed for Vancouver this past weekend. She’s spending this whole week rehearsing, and when Sunday rolls around, television viewers here in Invermere and all across Canada will see her dance live along with Indigenous musicians Snotty Nose Rez Kids and Tia Wood.
“Ever since I was little, dancing has always been my thing, I love it,” said Jefferson. “I’m very excited about this opportunity.”
As of press time, the GoFundMe campaign had raised nearly $3,000 to help send Jefferson to the Junos. To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/f/amber-goes-to-the-junos.
If you want to watch Jefferson live, the Juno Awards begin at 6 p.m. mountain time on CBC.
