From staff reports
CLARION – The Dancer’s Studio mini, junior, teen and senior competition dance teams attended their first event for the 2016-2017 season, the Fierce Dance Competition, Saturday, Oct. 15, in Pittsburgh. The team of 35 competitive dancers attended the one-day competition and completed the day with a master class.
The team took home 17 high gold awards, 30 platinum awards, and one diamond award, which was the only diamond awarded at the event. The “Entertainment Award” went to two group routines; the “Fierce Award” went to trio Kaylee Baumcratz, Gracie Dunkle and Abby Young.
Special award, “Breath of Beauty” went to Angela Olson and “Poetry in Motion” was awarded to duo Kaylee Baumcratz and Lauren Johnson. Abbey Barron won the Broadway Dance Center Scholarship.
Overall awards included first place for ten routines; second place for seven routines, and third place for six routines.
A-Jo Gallagher, owner of the studio was awarded a choreography award for “90’s Throwback” and A.C. Ciulla won a choreography award for “The Wave.”
Several dancers competed for the title of Miss Fierce. Titles were given in the mini, petite, junior, teen, and senior divisions. Three students of the studio earned titles; Abbey Barron, Junior Miss Fierce; Angela Olson, Teen Miss Fierce and Kelsey Wolf, Senior Miss Fierce- Kelsey Wolf.
Routines were choreographed by Gallagher, teachers, Catherine Hayes, Alex Lawrence and Shannon Peterson as well as guest choreographers Kate Harpootlian, Rory Freeman, Channing Cooke, A.C. Ciulla, and Jason Marquette.
The dancers performed in several categories, including solos, duos, trios, and groups. Genres included lyrical, contemporary, general variety, modern, tap, musical theater, jazz, and hip-hop.
The Dancer’s Studio is located at609 Main Street, Clarion, and offers classes to recreational dancers as well as competitive dancers. For more information about the studio, visit www.dancers-studio-stars.com.