Among them they have 40 years of dancing experience and they're all still in their teens.

Put that experience together with a lot of hard work and dedication, and it adds up to a trip to Germany for four Orangeville girls - Shelby Hagymasy, Kristen Maurice, Breanna Horniblow, and Krista Mitchnick - with the Canadian National Dance Team.

First, though, between now and November they have to raise $6,000 each.

November is when they fly to Germany for the World Championships, which they refer to as the Olympics of dancing.

The event will be held at Riesa, a town southeast of Berlin and near the border of the Czech Republic.

They've joined hands for the fundraising drive, and have already held a barbecue at Sobeys and will be selling chocolate bars at Wal-Mart on September 9.

Wal-Mart will match each dollar the girls raise that day.

The girls also plan to collect beer bottles and hold a garage sale, car wash and bake sale.

"We've made a good start," said Breanna.

They also received support from the Town and are seeking corporate sponsors.

Photo/MANDI HARGRAVE BOUND FOR GERMANY: Come this November, Shelby Hagymasy, Breanna Horniblow, Kristen Maurice and Krista Mitchnick hope to travel to Germany to compete in the World Championships of dance. Meanwhile, they also have to practise their dance routines.

All four will participate in the show dance competition with a routine from choreographer Allain Lupien. Krista and Kristen will also participate in a tap routine by Michael Clark. There are also solo dances.

Breanna and Shelby will be overseas November 20-27, Krista and Kristen till December 4.

Most of them were dancing before they started school, at Annemarie's Dance Academy, and they love it.

For Shelby, dancing is a way of expressing herself without words; for Breanna, it's sometimes a way of venting anger in a nonviolent way; and for Krista "it's a whole other world."

As for their social life, dancing takes up a lot of their time, and for Kristen at least, "dance is our life," while Breanna sees no distinction.

Dancing is something the girls want to carry over into their professional lives, whether they become dance teachers or continue competing.

Excitement flows from them when they talk about going to Germany and seeing what dancers from other countries can do, learning from new teachers and finally getting to do a lift, as there are no boys at Annemarie's.

The Canadian team won the competition last year with 24 medals.

The girls hope to repeat that feat, but would be satisfied with a top-five finish.

Anyone wishing to contribute toward the costs of the girls' trip can call the Bank of Nova Scotia at 519-941-5544 and ask to donate to the Canadian

National Dance Team account. Sunday hunting expanded