Local dancers earn awards

Three local dancers were honored at the Fierce Dance Competition held Oct. 15 in Pittsburgh. Kelsey Wolf was named Senior Miss Fierce; Angela Olson was Teen Miss Fierce; and Abbey Barron was Junior Miss Fierce. (Submitted photo)

CLARION – The Dancer’s Studio Mini, Junior, Teen and Senior competition dance teams attended their first event for the 2016-2017 season Oct. 15 at the Fierce Dance Competition in Pittsburgh.

The team of thirty-five 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. A 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 10 routines, second place for seven routines, and third place for six routines.

A-Jo Gallagher, owner of Dancer’s Studio, was awarded a choreography award for “90’s Throwback” and AC 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. Dancer’s Studio is proud to announce the crowning of three students: Junior Miss Fierce, Abbey Barron; Teen Miss Fierce, Angela Olson; and Senior Miss Fierce, Kelsey Wolf.

Routines were choreographed by A-Jo Gallagher, teachers Catherine Hayes, Alex Lawrence and Shannon Peterson; as well as guest choreographers Kate Harpootlian, Rory Freeman, Channing Cooke, AC 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.

“I am so proud of all four of my competition teams. They represented DS to their fullest. With this being the first competition of the season, they exceeded my expectations. I am looking forward to a great year,” said A-Jo Gallagher, owner of the Dancer’s Studio.

Dancers who participated in the competition include Taylor Aites, Abbey Barron, Morgan Hartle, Larissa Lauer, Sarah Lavin, Angela Olson, Madilyn Simpson, Kelsey Wolf, Ainsley Wolfe, Kaylee Baumcratz, Summer Bish, Gracie Dunkle, Lauren Johnson, Abigail Keth, Kylie Mumford, Mackenzie Thiel, Abby Young, Brenna Armstrong, Madilyn Baker, Janiya Jones, Jordan McElravy, Taylor Sherbine, Olivia Siegel, Sofia Venanzi, Caitlyn Wolfe, Reigyn Brosius, Reese Cornecki, Mackenzie Kundick, Rylee Lindenpitz, Madilyn Ruhlman, Aoife Salusky, Charlotte Schultz, Addison Siegel and Nevaeh Smith. Grace Matson, who is injured, attended the event but did not compete.