Lee Jenny and Erin

Article by Tony Muma
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August 8, 2012

LONG SAULT - Two local sisters, Erin and Jenny Lee, 19 and 20, of Long Sault, are getting used to life in Edinburgh, Scotland. The sisters were selected as two of 25 Team Canada representatives for an opportunity to dance for none other than a member of the royal family, according to their mother, Brenda Quesnel and father, Sean Lee.

"Jenny and I have had a very eventful week preparing for our dance,"' Erin wrote in an
e-mail to the Standard-Freeholder. "Tonight (last Friday) is the opening show and there will be a show each night for the next three weeks except Sunday, with two shows on Saturday,'' Erin said that she and her sister will be dancing for 9,000 people a night as part of Team Canada. "This has truly been an experience of a lifetime,'' Erin added.

"There are hundreds of pipers, dancers, drummers and military soldiers in the show who are all amazing performers. "It was such an incredible feeling to be in the middle of 9,000
people.''

Quesnel said her daughters are doing great, but she does miss them dearly. "They're doing very well, they're on cloud nine.'' Quesnel added. The girls left on July 26 from Montreal, and have taken up residence at Edinburgh University with other Highland Dancers from around the world. The girls will spend the month August performing at the Edinburgh Military Tatoo on a nightly basis, but it won't be all fun and games. "They had five days to learn the choreography," Quesnel added. "Several hours of practice per day:'

Of course, no high-profile trip overseas would be complete without a twist in scheduling.
"As of two days ago, the girls told us the Queen would not be attending.'' Quesnel said, adding the girls' disappointment quickly wore off with the thought of Prince William or Prince Harry taking her place. "All the girls want William or Harry,'' she laughed. "We were more disappointed than they were.''

In the weeks and months leading up to being selected to represent Canada, Quesnel said that Erin and Jenny - University of Ottawa students in Kinesiology and Fine Arts, respectively applied for the spots to represent Canada thinking: "What are the chances?"
"They both went ahead and got summer jobs once they school year ended," Quesnel
said.

They were both contacted about it, which was good. They agreed that if only one was
selected, neither of them would go. Erin and Jenny have danced locally with the Ellen Cameron School for the past 12 years and dance at the Erin Mansfield School in Ottawa during the school year. The girls will dance their way home on August 26.