EVERETT — People came from as far as Canada and Olympia to see the kids dance.
They weren’t disappointed.
Erik Linder, 8, and his dance partner, Rickie Taylor, also 8, and four other couples put on two ballroom dancing exhibitions Sunday at the Dorothy Jayne Studio in Everett. Nearly 300 people attended the two shows combined.
The dance prodigies are headed to national and international competitions in the next month.
“I had so many e-mail responses this morning from people saying they had a wonderful time,” said Lars Linder, Erik’s father.
Rickie Taylor of Everett and Erik Linder of Lake Stevens are headed to the USA Dance National Dance Sport Championships April 4-6 in Baltimore. They qualified by winning a regional competition. They won their age group at the national show last year, Lars Linder said.
Then, after a few short days back at home, the kids and their parents will jet off to Blackpool, England, for the Blackpool Junior Dance Festival, April 13-17, one of the largest youth dance competitions in the world, Linder said. They were invited to participate.
The event on Sunday was both fundraiser and just plain fun.
“The main purpose was to show the community, of course, the kids, and to draw attention to the idea of helping them out to go to England,” Linder said Monday.
The trip to England is expected to cost about $5,000, he said.
Linder wasn’t yet sure on Monday how much Sunday’s event raised. The shows were free, with donations requested.
“We’re going to let the kids open up the box tonight,” Lars Linder said.
Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439, sheets@heraldnet.com.
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