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MOVING AND GROOVING Conestogo’s Hannah Petrosino, 7, and her sister Rebecca, 10, came home with a few more awards to add to their collection after competing in the Terpsichore Summer National Championships in Niagara Falls, NY July 11-13.

Two Conestogo sisters tip-tapped their way to victory July 13 at the Terpsichore Summer National Championships in Niagara Falls, New York.
Rebecca Petrosino, 10, won the Top Mini category for her tap solo, and her sister, Hannah, 7, posted one of the top five scores in the open category despite being the youngest of about 50 competitors.
Having practiced 10 and seven hours per week respectively over the past few months, the girls were thrilled with their strong showings and anxious to keep up their hard work next season.
“As long as they’re having fun, we’re there,” their mother Suzy said of the girls’ dedication to the sport.
On average, the duo competes in five or six events per year, representing its Waterloo studio, the Davenport Dance Project.
Rebecca first stepped on the stage at age three and now dances tap, jazz and ballet in three groups, a trio, a small ensemble and alone; this means she has to memorize six different numbers, buy six unique costumes and portray six diverse characters.
These commitments along with Hannah’s four routines keep Suzy busy.
She has to sew on countless sequins to each outfit, curl the girls’ hair and doll them up with theatre makeup, fake eyelashes and anything else the dance instructors come up with.
“We are told [how they should look],” Suzy said of the procedure.
Fortunately, the girls do not mind sitting through the makeup sessions since they both love performing.
Hannah did admit though that she isn’t quite used to the eyeliner yet.
“It feels funny when mom puts it on.”
The girls’ dad, John, also helps out with their dance dreams, albeit not with the eye shadow and blush.
He built them a dance studio in the basement, complete with mirrors and a padded floor.
This special space allows the performers to help each other out, whether with learning the routines or developing their stage presence.
Rebecca once won an award for the latter ability and Hannah was deemed to have the most potential at a competition in Toronto; their numerous medals, trophies and plaques occupy a place of honour on the family’s mantel.
At this most recent event at the Niagara Falls Conference Centre, Rebecca took home more than $400, along with some hardware.
Part of the money is allocated for a workshop and costumes; the rest she has “invested” with her father.
Hannah got a picture of herself for her top-five placing, which was not quite as exciting as her sister’s prize, she said.
Both girls said they were not really nervous under the lights that weekend, even though Rebecca had to announce her name and hometown.
She also took part in the opening jazz number with 50 other children that took three hours to rehearse.
John said he is not surprised the girls are naturals on stage since their mother was an accomplished figure skater.
“That’s where they get their talent from.”

Elmira’s Dennis Wideman got quite the pay raise this week as he signed a four-year, $15.75 million contract with the Boston Bruins; last season he made $600,000.
The National Hockey League defenceman was at his cottage in Parry Sound Monday night when he learned the deal was wrapped up.
“Obviously, I’m most excited probably with the length and finally having some security. The last, I don’t know how many years, I didn’t know where I was going to be, where I was going to be playing the next year because it was one-year deals and stuff like that. ... It’s nice to know that they have enough confidence in me as a player to give me a four-year deal,” he said Tuesday.
Now going into his second season with the Bruins, Wideman filed for salary arbitration when he was still without a contract in early July.
Although the negotiations took a little longer than he expected, Wideman said he’s glad it ended well before his arbitration date in August.
“I was happy with the process.”
Financially, Wideman can now feel secure, but his battle for ice time will continue.
“It just guarantees me the salary for the next four years. I still obviously have to perform and do my job or you’re not going to play. When it comes down to it, that’s what it’s all about: we play the game because we want to get better and keep helping the team get better.”
Wideman joined the team in 2007 after being traded from the St. Louis Blues for Brad Boyes; last season he racked up 36 points in 81 games and enjoyed a first-round playoff run with the team.
This year, he hopes to step up his efforts.
“I just want to keep trying to get better and keep improving and keep trying to make the team as good as we can.”
Off the ice, Wideman plans to continue living life as usual, except for a few upgrades here and there.
“Obviously, I’ve got some stuff that I can do now with the cottage and things like that, but I want to try my best to stay the same and not change.
“Now that it’s four years, I’ll probably have to look [at buying property in Boston]. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to rent anymore, but I’ve got some financial advisors that I have to sit down and have meetings with – they’ll basically tell me what I can and can’t do,” he said laughing.
On Tuesday though, none of those decisions was on his mind as Wideman planned to watch some TV, do a little shopping and organize his upcoming weekend celebration back in Elmira.
“We’ve got lots to celebrate Friday.
“I’m really excited. I’m excited to be with Boston, hopefully for four years, and I’m excited to have the opportunity to be one of their core guys.”

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