Two local tap dancers to step into World Championships in Prague

By Joan Janzen

FOX VALLEY / KINDERSLEY - Local dance students Kelsey Hoffart and Grace Sylvester have been selected to join Team Canada Tap West and will be participating in the World Tap Championships in Prague from October 22-26, 2025. Grace and Kelsey have been training with their instructor, Tiffany Wagner, since they were preschoolers. Grace is from Kindersley and has been dancing with Premier Dance Studio. Kelsey lives near Fox Valley and has been dancing with Leader School of Dance.

Grace Sylvester from Kindersley and Kelsey Hoffart from Fox Valley will be competing at the World Tap Championships in Prague, as part of Team Canada Tap West. The championships will be held from October 22-26, 2025. Photo courtesy Leader School of Dance

They heard about the auditions for Team Canada from their teacher. Tiffany’s son, Kylan Wagner, is the assistant choreographer for the team.

The girls submitted their online audition and were thrilled to discover they had made the team! The two dancers have become acquainted over the past two years while attending competitions with their tap solos.

The twenty members in the formation hail from Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. Training with the team began in July when they travelled to Vancouver to learn about the choreography for the team dance. They rehearsed for three hours a day for six consecutive days.

“I was nervous,” Kelsey admitted. “But having the familiar faces of Kylan and Grace there made it less stressful. And the main choreographer was very encouraging.”

After returning home, the girls continued to practice the routine on their own and submitted a video documenting their progress before returning for more training in September. “We will be returning to Vancouver for four more weekends to practice,” Kelsey said.

Before their departure to Prague on the 19th, the team will do an October 17th pre-show followed by a final practice the following day. Not only are the girls putting in many hours of dance practice, but they are also helping their families by participating in various fundraising events. Donations obtained from sponsors, their families, local businesses and fundraisers help cover their costs.

It will be a monumental experience for both dancers to compete in this international competition with their peers from around the world. The two small-town girls will be among more than a quarter of a million dancers coming from six continents.

It’s sure to be quite an experience for the girls, but they’re also hoping to see some of the sights while they’re in Prague.