Salish Secondary School in Surrey is once again hosted Level Up, the biggest high school dance competition in B.C.

The third annual event was held April 9 in the school鈥檚 gym.

More than 700 students from schools across Surrey, the Lower Mainland, and Vancouver Island attended the dance showcase.

鈥淭he event was amazing,鈥� Jenny-Lynn Jensen told the Cloverdale Reporter. Jensen is a teacher at Salish Secondary and the head of the dance program there. 鈥淭he gym was electric with the energy from the dancers.鈥�

Jensen created Level Up in 2022. Coming out of the pandemic, she 鈥渟aw a need鈥� for an event that would bring the students in the province together to build community through dance. She said the event has been getting bigger and better every year.

She noted some highlights from this year鈥檚 incarnation included special guest showcase performances from: Harbour Dance Centre鈥檚 鈥淚TP,鈥� Studio North鈥檚 鈥淵oungside鈥�, A3 District鈥檚 鈥淓P Ryderz,鈥� and Fusion Force Studio.

鈥淪urrey School Trustee Laurae McNally was in attendance to show her support and love of the performing arts,鈥� Jensen added.

As always, the event is student organized and run under the leadership of the Salish Secondary Dance Program and the guidance of Jensen.

鈥淥ur student volunteers worked all day and evening setting up and running this event,鈥� she explained.

Jensen said Salish Dance received very positive feedback on this year鈥檚 event, mainly that the kids were having a lot of fun at the competition.

鈥淭hey loved watching all the teams from around the province and cheering them on,鈥� she added. 鈥淎ll the teams were grateful to be there and share their passion for dance with one another.鈥�

Jensen also said Level Up Dance Events couldn鈥檛 run the contest without help from both the Cloverdale community and the dance community.

鈥淭hank you to our generous local sponsors for donating dance class passes, workshops, and media coverage, Studio North, Harbour Dance, Fusion Force, and VANCT.鈥�

Level Up high school dance team competition award winners for 2024 were:

Junior Hip Hop Team

1st: Sullivan Heights

2nd: North Surrey Secondary

3rd: Gladstone Secondary

Senior Hip Hop Team

1st: LA Matheson

2nd: Sullivan Heights

3rd: Panorama Ridge

Jazz Dance Team

1st: Spectrum Community School

2nd: Salish Secondary

Jazz Dance Team 鈥� Student Choreographed

1st: Lord Tweedsmuir

2nd: Sullivan Heights

Contemporary Dance Team 鈥� Student Choreography

1st: Lord Tweedsmuir

2nd: Kwantlen Park

3rd: Salish Secondary

Contemporary Dance Team

1st: Spectrum Community School

2nd: North Surrey

Junior Hip Hop Team - Student Choreographed

1st: Johnston Heights

2nd: Fraser Heights

3rd: Salish Secondary

Senior Hip Hop Team - Student Choreographed

1st: Johnston Heights

2nd: Grandview Heights

3rd: Langley Secondary