Brockville teen overcomes panic attack to shine at national song and dance competition

A Brockville, Ont., teen precocious made waves astatine a nationalist opus and creation title successful Vancouver, nan Summit Dance Challenge, but her travel to occurrence wasn’t without its challenges.

Mara Shannon, a performative creator known for her comedic style, faced an unexpected obstacle conscionable moments earlier her award-winning performance.

Mara had a panic onslaught aft a scheduling mix-up near her arriving precocious for her performance. In request of reassurance, she reached retired to her vocal coach, Kelli Gautreau, who was 3 clip zones distant connected nan East Coast.

“I was successful furniture and I happened to conscionable unfastened my telephone astatine nan aforesaid clip that it came done and it was coming done FaceTime. I thought, ‘That’s odd. Why is Mara’s mom calling me?'” Gautreau said.

Despite mediocre telephone service, Gautreau’s encouraging words helped Mara calm down and hole for nan stage.

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“We’re calling Kelli and we’re like, successful a basement. So nan work is horrible. And she’s like, ‘You tin do this, Mara. Like, you sewage this, you sewage this, you sewage this.’ And past she sewage cut,” Mara recounted.

The little but supportive speech provided nan boost Mara needed. Gautreau stayed connected nan statement during Mara’s performance, listening arsenic nan assemblage responded positively.

“She crushed it. I could perceive nan assemblage laughing done nan phone, done nan crackling phone. And her mom conscionable said, ‘She did it. She did it.’ I went, yes, arsenic a teacher, that’s why I teach,” Gautreau said.

Mara’s capacity earned her 3rd spot arsenic she became nan first personnel of Brockville’s Broadway Dance Studio to compete astatine a nationalist level.