From Youngstown to Team Canada: Kiara Laughlin dances on the world stage

By Kiara Laughlin

My name is Kiara Laughlin, and I am 20 years old. I grew up in Youngstown and attended school there from kindergarten through Grade 9.

Although I fell in love with dance later than many dancers, it quickly became a passion that has shaped my life. After watching dance for the first time in Grade 4, I knew I wanted to be part of it. In Grade 5, I joined Tara’s Academy of Dance in Consort, Alta., where I trained for six years. It was there that my love of dance truly began.

Twenty-year-old Kiara Laughlin, originally from Youngstown, has danced her way to the world stage! Here she poses in front of the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Globe. SUBMITTED

While in Orlando, Ki had time to take in some sights. The Disney Castle at Magic Kingdom can be seen in the background. SUBMITTED

After graduating from South Central High School in Oyen, I auditioned for the University of Calgary dance team, where I trained and competed. While I enjoyed the experience, I soon realized big-city life wasn’t for me. I returned home to Youngstown and began working as an educational assistant at Oyen Public School and as a customer experience associate at TD Canada Trust in Oyen.

During my gap year, I started teaching acro at Tara’s Academy of Dance. Following my appearance in the local Dancing with the Stars event, Breaking Ground studio owner Tonya Logan approached me about teaching a few classes before the dance season ended. I gladly accepted and continued teaching acro throughout the following year while also choreographing several solo routines.

Last fall, I moved to Saskatoon to pursue my Education degree. In January 2026, I learned Team Canada Pom was recruiting an additional member to compete at the World Dance and Cheerleading Championships in Florida. Thanks to the money I had saved during my gap year, I was able to submit audition videos to the coaching staff and was thrilled to earn a spot on the team.

The team consisted of 18 athletes and three coaches from across Saskatchewan, including dancers from Regina, Saskatoon and surrounding communities. After winning the national championship and earning the title of Team Canada, we began preparing our routine for the world competition, held April 23 in Florida.

Training began in August, with monthly practices that often lasted eight hours. Although I joined the team only two months before the competition, I attended three in-person practices and performed with the team at the Saskatchewan provincial championships. In a short time, I learned an incredible amount and made memories that will last a lifetime.

While in Orlando, our team had the opportunity to visit Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Epcot. We also attended the opening ceremonies, participated in a cultural exchange with athletes from around the world, and watched the finals in our division. Experiencing different cultures and meeting competitors from other countries made the trip even more meaningful.

Representing Canada on the world stage was an unforgettable experience and an opportunity I will always be grateful for. I hope to continue working hard, audition again next year, and save enough money to pursue another chance to compete internationally.

This incredible journey would not have been possible without the generous support of sponsors, family, friends, coaches and community members who helped offset the costs of the trip. Their encouragement allowed a young dancer from rural Alberta to represent her country on the world stage — a dream come true and a reminder that big opportunities can grow from small-town beginnings.