Cowichan kid becomes our first Highland dance champion in years
Kennedy Plumb’s pretty humble about winning a championship title in highland dancing.
That’s even knowing this is the first championship title won in highland dancing in the Cowichan Valley for a very long time, claimed coach Judy Hogg of the Celtic Rhythm Dancers club.
But Plumb, 10, was all smiles and twinkly eyes as she showed off the plethora of medals and the championship certificate she brought home from the Feb. 16 Celtic Arts Open Championship and Highland Dancing competition in Bellingham, Washington.
“A was a little surprised,” Plumb said of finding out how well she did in the series of dances and the solo she performed at the highest level of competition, the premier level.
“She won by a long shot too,” said a very proud Hogg.
“She had just received her premier dance level, which is the highest level you can compete in and this was also her first competition in that level,” Hogg explained.
Hogg said Plumb was feeling quite nervous going into the competition, but was able to overcome her jitters.
“I was nervous, but once I started competing I started feeling better and more comfortable,” Plumb said.
Hogg can testify to that.
“She was very nervous and questioning whether or not she would even do the competition,” she said. “We told her it’s a trial and there were no expectations.
“The (competition) day, she just took a deep breath and all of sudden she was relaxed and she did amazing,” Hogg said.”We’re extremely proud of her.”
Plumb worked her buns off, training hard for over a month and a half.
She attends classes with Hogg Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
“She really did work for it,” Hogg said. “She worked her butt off and deserved the title and it’s kind of a big deal.
“We’ve had several runner-ups but no one has ever won that title,” Hogg explained.
Hogg’s crew is now off to Vancouver this weekend to compete in the B.C. Open Championship.
“I’m feeling pretty good about this one,” said Plumb of the Vancouver event.
She’s been dancing with the Celtic Rhythms Dancers since she was five.
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