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Home My WebLink AboutClinton News Record, 2015-06-17, Page 3I A CONNATE LINE 01 CASUAL FURNITURE TO COMPLPMENT AL.LAREASORYOUP! 110M E. Wednesday, June 17, 2015 • News Record 3 Handy dances his way from Clinton to Italy Laura Broadley Clinton News Record It was a tough choice, hockey or dance? Dawson Handy had to choose between two activities that he loved. He chose dance and it's paid off. Handy's talent had given him the opportu- nity to dance with the Canadian National Hip Hop Team at the World Hip Hop Championships in Remini, Italy from October 20-25, 2015. The competition is held by the International Dance Organization, which has a membership of 90 countries from six continents. Although he's only 16 -years -old, Handy has put a lot of time and hard work to get where he is now. Handy started dancing seven years ago at Dance Techniques in Clinton. At the time Patricia Coulter, director at Dance Tech- niques, brought dance into the physical educa- tion curriculum at St. Joe's. "He was hooked on dance," remembers Daw- son's mom Marina. Only two years into his dancing career he was asked to join the compet- itive team and has been there ever since. He has also racked up a number of awards already for his solo hip hop; first overall in hip hop (twice) at the Move with the Beat com- petition, first in his cate- gory at the Fever compe- tition and first in the hip hop category at the Just Dance competition, to name a few. Ballet, jazz, tap, acro- batic and lyrical dance styles are all a part of Handy's repertoire but hip hop and contempo- rary are the styles he's passionate about. "Hip hop is my number one," Handy said. But he doesn't just learn, he's also passing on his talent to a future generation of dancers through his role as teacher at Dance Techniques. At a competition per- formed a solo and received a scholarship to attend an audition for the Canadian National Hip Hop Team at the begin- ning of May. There's only 17 people picked from Eastern Can- ada and Handy is only one of two boys chosen. As for being a male in the female -dominated world of dance, Handy said it has advantages and disadvantages. "It's out of the norm. But in the dance indus- try, in the dance world it's high in demand," Handy said. Handy said dance has changed his life for the better and encourages kids to give it a try even if they're hesitant at first. Dance wasn't even on his radar while he was play- ing hockey and then he tried it. "Now that I'm here because I did dance, I've grown a passion for it that was better than hockey" But dance hasn't just changed Handy into an elite athlete, it's given him a more confident outlook on life. "It gives you a different perspective on things. You are given a lot of responsi- bility. There are kids at six years old doing exams. In other sports kids don't do exams so they go into high school and they're freak- ing out about it. But as a dancer, you're not," Handy explained. The self-confidence alone is enough to make Marina proud and she knows walking onto a stage by himself is no easy feat. "You've already got that confidence. You've got this. It forces you to dream big because you have to," Marina said. Even with all the awards and accomplishments Handy remains humble, giv- ing credit to his studio, Dance Techniques and specifically to Coulter. Dance is not recognized as a sporting event and there- fore dancers are required to A new life for Clinton skate park Laura Broadley Clinton News Record The plan for the building of the Clinton skate park has moved forward. The Clinton Community Park Steering Committee of Council will replace the skate park community group. The development of the Committee of Council will allow for the development of the skate park and the area around it. As a Committee of Council the group will be able to provide tax receipts for donations, waive fees for meetings, use municipal com- munication media and save HST on items purchased through the municipality. The purpose of the com- mittee is to provide direction to the Clinton Community Park revitalization. It will be made up of a chairperson, two members of Council, a minimum of four and maxi- mum of six members of the public and the Mayor of Central Huron. The responsibilities of the committee are to; develop a strategic plan for the park, develop and implement a capital replacement redevel- opment plan for the park, develop and implement a fundraising campaign for the project and investigate and apply for grant opportunities. The Clinton Community Park will be incorporated into the community improvement, revitalization and branding project. To get involved or to donate contact clinton- skatepark2015@gmail.com or call Kara Freeman- Bechard at 519-482-9029. Amanda Townsend/For the News Record Clinton native, Dawson Handy,16, is heading to Italy this fall to compete in the World Hip Hop Championships. raise $3600 to cover travel and expenses and a further $2500 for a parent chaperone. An account (number 3074929) has been set up at Clinton Libro Credit Union called "Handy Hip Hops to clintonnewsrecord.co ;as rbc. hli.Ud.l.s 1 L'RERS. i7r.s:l w el rugs 1.1114 :c f ryr 1f.PI: For °ride117°m, patios, {;rid rdel t areas, SW:W.1911i. Pi E• erefeerrr fric!rerr e•rrv/}rrrrrs vk rambrribT.v. BEST NUMB AL1. YEM LQi1Gr .,liinda.y - Friday 91130 - SrUU Saturday 10:00 - 4:00, 519-238-2110 vrvvw.gocasualea. Italy" where donations can be made. For further information contact Handy at 441-2607 or 440-9285 or via Facebook under his name or his mother, Marina Rawlings -Handy. THE LITTLE INN of R. /tTIEL/) 1 .r • _. Give Your Mother a Break on Fathers Day Let our Chef cook for you! Who loves a pig roast? Join us on Father's Day Sunday, June 21st 11:OOam 4:OOpm Pig Roast, Beef Carving Station, Raw Seafood Bar, a Dessert Table and more... $29.95 Per Adult Children under 8 years old eat FREE! After a two week hiatus, live racing returned to Clinton Raceway this past Sunday, the rain held off for the majority of the 10 race card, giving fans the chance to enjoy the live racing action. Race one kicked off the day with a win for Artistic Champ, owned by Jeffrey Williamson of Blyth, trained by Eric Billings and driven to victory by Scott Wray. Distinctiv Cam held out for a second place finish in race three for owner Terry Rutledge of Auburn, and trainer Karl MacNaughton of Clinton. The northern connection was present in race five with a first for Primal Seelster, owned by Rebecca Williamson of Blyth and trained by Eric Billings, and second place for Wawanosh Wave, owned by Lema Chapple of Wingham and trained by Jayne Walker. It was a second place finish for Big Fella Killean owned by Harry Parrott of Clinton, trained by Jim Watt and driven by J. Bradley Harris in race six. The seven horse won the seventh race - giving a lucky winner a $200 gift card to Elliotts Auction and Liquidation in Clinton. Also, fans had the chance to win two tickets to see Shania Twain in London - the lucky winner was Eugene Janes! Live racing returns to Clinton Raceway this Sunday June 21 for Father's Day. Bring the family out for a Seaforth Public School playground fundraiser with silent auction, bake sale, 50/50 and Ontario Sires Stakes three year old colt pacers. Live race post time 1:30pm. SUNDAY JUNE 21 Seaforth Public School Fundraiser SEAF''RTH public school ri or_r 591 YldftfRIJ11V sow DELICIOUS BAKE SALE 50150 DRAW & SILEN i v Clinton Raceway Presen is el 4012 VER \i„, ohrotifi SUNIIAY SHOW 3 Year Old Colt Pace every live race day in the 2015 season! CLINTON raceway 147 Beech St. 519.482.1678 clintonraceway.com