Members of Canada’s National Ballet School came to Calgary to audition Albertan ballet dancers for a spot in the program’s summer camp in Toronto next year.

About 30 wannabe dancers, both girls and boys, got to experience their own version of “So You Think You Can Dance Canada” with the Calgary-held competition.

The dancers range from grades five through 12.

Deborah Hess, a senior ballet teacher at the Toronto school, says out of the approximate one thousand competitors she sees across Canada, only about 150 will be chosen.

Twelve-year-old Shelby Craze came to Calgary all the way from Texas.

Craze admits she felt good about taking a spot at the summer camp in the “Big Smoke,” and says it was her hard work that helped cinch the deal.

Hess says choosing the raw toe talent boils down to smooth moves and dedication to the craft.

“We’re looking for a natural flow of movement, a natural musicality, a certain amount of flexibility to withstand the rigours of the training,” she explains, noting that physiotherapists are also on site to help develop flexibility during those pesky growth spurts.

Performers who make it through to the camp next summer might even be asked to stay on for the duration of the school year — a  big decision for the dancers’ families.

Eleven year-old Calgarian Isla Gosbee, to her own surprise, was also selected as one of the lucky few.

“I didn’t think I’d get in — I screwed up a lot!” says Gosbee, adding the first thing she was going to do when she got home was to eat a cupcake to celebrate.

While 14-year-old Kelsy Dabek of Calgary hadn’t yet found out her footwork fate, she maintains she’s excited.

“I think it’s a really good opportunity to audition for something this cool. If I were to make it in it would be a really good experience,” says Dabek, adding that her mentor is her dance teacher and her favourite ballet move is the “jete.”

“I just like jumping up in the air a lot – it’s really exciting!”

And even though other dance trends such as Hip Hop are gaining in popularity, Dabek says ballet’s now stronger than ever.

“It’s basically your ground level to everything,” she explains. “It really gives you the technique that you need to use and to bring everything into it.”

Next up for Canada’s National Ballet School tour troupe are Victoria and Vancouver.