From staff reports
CLARION – The Dancer’s Studio junior and senior competition teams completed their competition season with huge success at the Dance Masters of America’s 132nd National Convention. The team of 30 competitive dancers attended the convention July 3 to July 9, at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn.
The team took home eight high silver awards, 40 gold awards, and 18 platinum awards, which is the highest overall placement award a team can achieve. Along with these awards, they came back with numerous special judges’ awards. The teams’ final success was qualifying and performing for the Grand National Championship with their production, “Carn-E-Vil,” which included every competitive dancer.
Overall final placement awards were announced on Friday afternoon. The overall awards went to: Division 2, Gracie Dunkle, fifth place solo, “Annie” fifth place small line; Division 3: “Carn-E-Vil”, third place production; “Funky Monkey,” fifth place duo; “Control,” seventh place duo; Abbey Barron, seventh place solo; “Flip Flop Fly,” eighth place duo; and “I’m so Fancy” ninth place small line.
In Division 4 groups, “Red Football” placed fifth and “Carousel” placed tenth. Lissie Lauer earned 16th place with her solo in Division 6. Senior Ashley Barron was also recognized for her dancing precision as the recipient of the Lisa Toy Memorial Scholarship.
A-Jo Gallagher, owner of Dancer’s Studio, choreographed six of the overall dances including “Carn-E-Vil” which was selected to compete in the Grand National Championship. Shannon Peterson, teacher at the studio, choreographed two of the overall dances, Jason Marquette, from New York City, choreographed two of the overall dances and Kyle Robinson, from Los Angeles, choreographed one of the soloist dances.
The dancers performed in several categories, including solos, duos, trios, groups, small lines, large lines, and production. Genres included lyrical, contemporary, pointe, general variety, modern, tap, musical theater, jazz, and hip-hop. Students and teachers participated in master classes offered daily by Dance Masters of America.
Senior competition team members include Taylor Aites, Abbey Barron, Ashley Barron, Gretta Bish, Morgan Hartle, Larissa Lauer, Sarah Lavin, Julia Love, Grace Matson, Angela Olson, Alessandra Troese, Madison Schill, Madilyn Simpson, Kelsey Wolf and Mackenzie Young.
Junior competition team members include Kaylee Baumcratz, Summer Bish, Gracie Dunkle, Lauren Johnson, Janiya Jones, Abigail Keth, Jordan McElravy, Kylie Mumford, Aoife Salusky, Taylor Sherbine, Olivia Siegel, Mackenzie Thiel, Sofia Venanzi, Caitlyn Wolfe and Abby Young. Addison Siegel also traveled with the team and took classes all week.
The dancers are very grateful to the community and businesses supporting the team.
The studio is located at 609 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.