Local people often think of Cameron Francis as the blond boy whose feet just flew while step dancing in last summer’s “Highland Storm” at The College of Piping in Summerside. 

Cameron, aged 13, competed in the Rose Bowl Competition at the 18^th Annual British Association of Teachers of Dance, Festival of Dance, May 11-13. He made history by winning the BATD Traditional Dance Rose Bowl for step-dancing.  It was the first time a solo competitor took the prize and the first time in 40 years this coveted prize ever left the province of Nova Scotia.    

Winning a Rose Bowl was very satisfying says Francis who has been dancing since 5. He danced in this competition for 5 years with his partner in the “Celtic Clickers”, Shanda Mosher-Gallant.  They’ve won the duet competitions for the last 5 years straight.

 “I meet a lot of people through dancing,” says Cameron.  “I’ve done some busking in Borden and I get invited to dance at lots of ceilidhs.  That’s all volunteer work for most Saturday afternoons and Sunday nights.”

When asked what’s the best thing about dancing, Cameron said, “When I’m on stage and people are clapping to the music and I have a fiddler like Nathan Condon it’s the best.  I just tell him ‘play her fast and let her go’.  Faster the better.  The most fun of dancing is to make people happy.”

Taught by Colleen Taylor McMillan for 7 years, Cameron is grateful to his teacher and she was the one he called first after winning the Rose Bowl.  Dancing with a troupe of girls at The College of Piping’s summer production of “Highland Storm” has its advantages too.  “I get a lot of affection from the girls I dance with and they are great to me.”