Dominating a competition that brought together 55 countries, the Quebec troupe DM Nation proclaimed itself world champion in hip-hop dance. A first for this troupe which defended 39 dancers.
“I feel an incredible sense of pride and a lot of gratitude. It is the result of several years of work. We couldn’t ask for better”, launches Sophie Lavigne, present after the beginning of this adventure.
DM Nation institutes Canada at this World Championship which took place, the end of last week, in Phoenix, Arizona. This troupe is attached to the District.Mao dance school in Lévis.
Their number, title DM Nationread the clearance to get the 8-10 rating. They are the only team to achieve this result in the MegaCrew category.
“We had no expectations. We were going there without the objective of winning a medal. Our goal was to keep the focus and give the best of ourselves. We knew, however, over the qualification stages, that it was possible and that we had something special in our hands,” said Caroline Lemieux, choreographer with Marie-Odile Haince-Lebel.
This was DM Nation’s third appearance at the World Hip-Hop Dance Championship.
“There is nothing bigger in the dance world,” added the choreographer, specifying that this competition was the equivalent and had the prestige of the Olympic Games.
DM Nation flew through Wednesday’s stages and Thursday’s semi-finals to then advance to the final. She dominated the final, presented on Saturday, to overtake the United States, France, Thailand, Japan and Korea.
“We made no mistake. We gave everything we had. The rest, it is something which belongs to the judges and on fanl one does not have any more any control”, she pointed out.
Realization of a dream
Sophie Lavigne, one of the deans, at 32, of the DM Nation troupe, in the past I had time to celebrate this title which is still very fresh.
Back in Quebec, DM Nation will take the stage tonight at the Gala ComediHa! Anime fest for Marie-Mai, and will participate, on August 31, in the SuperFrancoFête at the Agora du Port de Québec.
“There is, sometimes, a small descent after having experienced big emotions. We’re back in training this morning and we don’t really have time to experience that,” she said, laughing.
“To be crowned “world champions” in front of the entire international dance community is a dream, an invaluable feeling. The support and recognition of other countries, in particular renowned directors and choreographers who we greatly respect, goes a long way,” explained Caroline Lemieux.
The Alpha Crew troupe, also attached to the District.Mao dance school, won a bronze medal in the Junior category behind the Kana-Boon troops! from Japan and Swagganaut from New Zealand.
