Eighteen-year-old “So You Think You Can Dance Canada” competitor, Allie Bertram, knows that the years of training she received through the Calgary Stampede Foundation’s Young Canadians School of the Performing Arts has sent her life rocketing in unexpected directions.

“Allie is incredibly talented, and has taken what she learned during six years of training as a junior Young Canadian to create amazing opportunities for herself,” says Wendy Tynan, chair of the Grandstand committee. "Her story is one of many that comes from the Stampede youth programs. Ultimately, we’re creating leaders of the future.”

Bertram, along with two other Young Canadians alumni, Corey Kluner and Louise Hradskey, was among thousands of dancers who tried out for the inaugural season of “So You Think You Can Dance Canada” and she is now competing with 11 other finalists. Both Kluner and Hradskey were proud to make it through several rounds before being eliminated. At the end of the series, one lucky winner will be given the title of Canada's First Favourite Dancer and win $100,000 along with a shiny 2009 Mercedes-Benz.

Finding amazing challenges to conquer is nothing new for Bertram who continued to train with a number of other dance teachers following her years as a Young Canadian. She recently attended the Boston Ballet School, hiked Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa, and earned the bronze medal in the prestigious Genée International Ballet competition in Toronto from well-known judges and dancers Karen Kain and Rex Harrington. The Genée competition attracts dancers from around the world. Bertram was one of only two Canadians in the 2008 finals.

“So You Think You Can Dance Canada” airs Wednesdays on CTV at 8 p.m. MST. Click to view Bertram’s audition video and don’t forget to vote!