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Web Release January 24 – 25, 2009
PRIME TIME DANCE COMPETITION
Jacksonville Dance Company attended the two-day Prime Time Dance Competition Saturday and Sunday, January 24-25, at the Robinson Center Auditorium in Little Rock. The dance competition was the first of the season for Jacksonville Dance Company. JDC competed with sixteen dance studios from various studios from Arkansas and Louisiana.
Dance competitions are usually broken down into several different categories: genre of dance; sometimes by levels (years competed or hours of instruction per week); number of performers in groups – small, four to nine dancers; large, ten to nineteen dancers); and line, 20 and more performers.
This Prime Time competition was broken down into three categories, which was determined by how many hours of instruction per week that the studio’s performers in that particular dance take. The categories were “Breaking Through” which included performers who take one to two hours a week; “Cutting Edge” for those who take three to five hours a week, and “Extreme” for the dancers who attend six or more hours of dance instruction per week.
The many genre of this competition were Tap, Character, Open, Lyrical, Modern, Hip Hop, Musical Theater, Jazz, Specialty, Pom Pon, Clogging, and Production. Age breakdowns were Petite (ages four to nine); Junior (ages nine to eleven); Teen (twelve to fourteen); and Senior (ages fifteen and up). Age for the performances was determined by the average age of the dancers for each particular number.
Awards were given for Second Place, First Place, and Elite First Place.
At each Award Session, after all of the placement awards were announced, the Top Ten Performances were announced. These Top Ten performances were, for example, for all genre of dance in the small group performances in each of the level categories. "Breaking Through" dancers did not compete against "Cutting Edge" students or "Extreme" groups, thus giving a more fair assessment of the performers. And the same principle was applied to the other awards ceremonies.
Jacksonville Dance Company competed eleven performances in tap, lyrical, hiphop and jazz, and JDC performances were all in the “Cutting Edge” category, ages petite, junior and teens.
(Unfortunately, because of quick costume changes, I was not able to get pictures of each of our performing groups.) Before we get into the individual performances by our dance company, I just want to say how proud we were of our dancers. You each and all performed so well and looked so good! We're off to a good start for this competition season.
The Jacksonville Dance Company performances started off with a hiphop number in the Small Group, in the Petite Division, average age eight. Performing “When I Grow Up” were Regan Campbell, Abbye Cody, Alexandria Pettus, Tegan Rea, Emily Snell, Mattie Taylor and Katie Turner.
The group, taught by Emily Neal and Sara Rettstatt won a First Place and also won Third Place in the Top Seven numbers in the Petite age, Small Group division.
Pictured here before performing are the Hiphop I dancers who performed to "When I Grow Up." From left to right, first row, are Mattie Taylor and Tegan Rea; second row, Katie Turner, Abbye Cody, and Emily Snell; and back row, Regan Campbell and Alexandria Pettus.
Dancing Tap in the Small Group, Junior Division, (average age ten) were Amber Bajorek, Maurie Gangluff, Kira Jinkins, Micah Perry, Heather Weth and Ryann Young. Dancing to "Dr. Rhythm" and taught by Ms. Emily Neal, the dancers were awarded a First Place and placed Seventh in the Top Ten Junior Small Group performances.
Seated first row, looking pert and pretty in their pink and black, left to right, are Micah Perry, Heather Weth and Amber Bajorek. In the back row, are Ryann Young, Maurie Gangluff and Kira Jinkins.
Dancing Lyrical in the Small Group, Junior Division, (average age of our group was eleven) were Katy Gorden, Christina Hensley, Bailea Jones, Kendra Lytch and Madi Spears. Dancing to “Walk You Home,” the dancers, taught by Ms. Lindsey Sweet, won a First Place and won Fifth Place in the Top Ten Junior Small Group performances.
Dancing lyrical for the first time in competition were four of the above five dancers, and each of you five, performed beautifully. From left to right are Christina Hensley, Kendra Lytch, Madi Spears, Katy Gorden and Bailea Jones. (Photo by Dena Gorden - thanks Dena.)
Dancing Hip Hop in the Small Group, Junior Division, (average age eleven) were Lauren Anderson, Amber Bajorek, Mackenzie Ellis, Paris Fonseca, Tessa Johnson, Micah Perry, Madi Spears, Hannah Taylor and Michael York. The group, taught by Ms. Lois Bryan, won a First Place and placed Eighth Place in the Top Ten Junior Small Group Performances for their Hip Hop to “Shawnty Get Loose.”
Shown here after a great Hiphop performance are (first row, left to right) are Paris Fonseca, Amber Bajorek, Madi Spears, Tessa Johnson and Mackenzie Ellis. Back row (left to right) are Lauren Anderson, Michael York, Micah Perry and Hannah Taylor.
The JDC performances began on Sunday with the Teen, Small Group Tap Performance, (average age thirteen) to “Shake Your Pom Pom” taught by Ms. Emily Neal. It was so neat to hear people from others studios, who were sitting around us, say “Wow!” The dancers, who won a First Place and also placed First Place in the Top Ten, Teen Small group performances, were Alexandria Adams, Jessica Holeman, Briyana Isaac, Hannah Moler, Bailey Jo Rhodes, Kassie Shepard, Kaitlin Soderlund, Tori Spears and Stephanie York.
We all say "Wow" - pictured front row, left to right are Briyana Isaac, Jessica Holeman and Hannah Moler. Second row are Kaitlin Soderlund, Bailey Jo Rhodes, and Alexandria Adams. Back row are Tori Spears, Stephanie York and Kassie Shepard.
The next Teen, Small Group performance, (average age thirteen) by JDC was a Lyrical Dance taught by Ms. Lois Bryan, to “Storm.” The dancers won a First and placed Sixth in the Top Ten Teen, Small Group performances. Dancing were Jessica Holeman, Briyana Isaac, Jessica McDonough, Niki Rodgers and Tori Spears.
Seated front row, the lyrical dancers are, left to right, Jessica McDonough, Tori Spears and Niki Rodgers. Seated behind are Jessica Holeman and Briyana Isaac. (I know that I'm probably a little bit biased, and I have often said this about our gymnastics team, but I know it about our dancers, too) - we have the prettiest girls at our facility in both dance and gymnastics. I have about decided that it is because of the exercise that they get weekly.
JDC had no entries in the Senior, Small Group category.
Performing in the Teen, Large Group Division, were the JDC Large Group Tap performers to “Get Me Bodied” taught by Ms. Emily Neal. The dancers won First Place and placed Second Place in the Top Ten, Teen Large Group performances. Dancers in this group were Alexandria Adams, Kaitlynn Coleman, Maurie Gangluff, Jessica Holeman, Briyana Isaac, Hannah Moler, Micah Perry, Bailey Jo Rhodes, Kassie Shepard, Kaitlin Soderlund, Carol Walters, Heather Weth, Stephanie York and Ryann Young. The average age of the dancers was twelve but they actually range in age from seven to sixteen.
Posing here after a wonderful performance are most of the large group Tap performers. Bottom row, left to right, are Hannah Moler, Kaitlin Soderlund and Alexandria Adams. Next row up, are Micah Perry, Bailey Jo Rhodes and Stephanie York. Next row are Kaitlynn Coleman, Maurie Gangluff and Kassie Shepard. Back row are Carol Walters, Briyana Isaac and Ryann Young. Performing but not shown above were Jessica Holeman and Heather Weth.
Jessica Holeman Heather Weth
Dancing in Teen, Large Group Lyrical, (average age twelve) to “In My Arms” and winning a Second Place, and Sixth Place in the Top Ten Teen, Large Group performances were Alexandria Adams, Amber Bajorek, Jessica Gardner, Christina Hensley, Amanda Hicks, Jessica Holeman, Kira Jinkins, Julia Johnson, Bailea Jones, Micah Perry, Niki Rodgers, Madi Spears and Tori Spears. Ms. Lois Bryan taught this group their lyrical dance.
The dancers shown here from the Lyrical Large Group were all trying to fit into the picture and the front row performers were trying to bend knees so as to not be as tall but it didn't quite work out. From left to right, front row, are Bailea Jones, Julia Johnson, Kira Jinkins, Micah Perry, Amber Bajorek and Madi Spears. Back row, left to right are Alexandria Adams, Jessica Holeman, Niki Rodgers, Tori Spears, Amanda Hicks, Jessica Gardner and Christina Henley.
Dancing in the Teen, Large Group performances, (average age thirteen) the dancers performed a unique hip hop dance with chairs to “Closer.” The dancers, taught by Ms. Lois Bryan, won a Second Place and placed Eighth in the Top Ten, Teen, Large Group performances. Dancing in this performance were Mackenzie Blanchard, Amanda Cross, Cassidy Eberle, Tori Hanley, Jessica Holeman, Maitland Hurley, Taylor Rai Johnson, Bailea Jones, Kendra Lytch, Jennifer McDonough, Stephanie Singleton, Joi Smith, Kaitlin Soderlund, Tori Spears, Kayla Vasquez, Carol Walters, Alana Whatley and Rachel Wyrick.
Because of the hurried costume changes from Lyrical to Hiphop, I was unable to get pictures taken. Shown below is an earlier class photo - and probably not all of the dancers were available for this photo.
Shown in an earlier class photo left to right, front row are Tori Spears and Taylor Rai Johnson. Second row are Joi Smith and Rachel Wyrick. Squatting are Stephanie Singleton, Maitland Hurley, Tori Hanley and Bailea Jones. Center row are Cassidy Eberle, Kaitlin Soderlund and Kendra Lytch. Back row are Mackenzie Blanchard, Alana Whatley, Amanda Cross, Kayla Vasquez, Jennifer McDonough, Jessica Holeman and Carol Walters.
Dancing Hip Hop in Line Category, average age twelve, and winning a First Place and First Place in Line, Teen, were a large group of performers, taught by Ms. Lois Bryan. Performing to “Krazy” were Mackenzie Blanchard, Regan Campbell, Kaitlynn Coleman, Amanda Cross, Cassidy Eberle, Paris Fonseca, Maurie Gangluff, Jessica Holemen, Maitland Hurley, Julia Johnson, Bailea Jones, Kendra Lytch, Micah Perry, Alexandria Pettus, Tegan Rae, Stephanie Singleton, Joi Smith, Emily Snall, Madi Spears, Hannah Taylor, Mattie Taylor, Katie Turner, Kayla Vasquez, Carol Walters, Heather Weth, Alana Whatley, Rachel Wyrick, and Michael York.
Wow - now this is a group!!! Competing in the Line Division and filling Robinson Auditorium Stage Sunday were these JDC Large Group Hip Hop Dancers, who are shown here in an earlier class photograph. First row, from left to right, are Mattie Taylor, Micah Perry, Madi Spears, Michael York, Tegan Rea, Bailea Jones, Regan Campbell and Mackenzie Ellis. Second row dancers are Maurie Gangluff, Katie Turner, Hannah Turner, Terra Johnson, Heather Weth, Julia Johnson, and Kaitlynn Coleman. Third row dancers are Alexandria Pettus, Mackenzie Blanchard, Courtney Ellis, Kaitlin Soderlund, Maitland Hurley, Cassidy Eberle, Lauren Anderson and K.K. Massey. Back row dancers are Rachel Wyrick, Stephanie Singleton, Alana Whatley, Joi Smith, Kayla Vasquez, Amanda Cross, Jessica Holeman, Paris Fonseca and Carol Walters. (Some of these dancers did not perform with the Large Group Hip Hop.)
Dancing last for JDC on Sunday evening, were the Jazz dancers who dazzled in their gorgeous costumes that sparkled beautifully on stage. The dancers, taught by Ms. Lois Bryan, performed to “Get Up Off That Thing” and won a Second Place and placed Third in the Top Ten, Teen Large Group Performances. Dancing this exciting jazz dance were Amanda Cross, Courtney Ellis, Jessica Holeman, Bailea Jones, Jennifer McDonough, Niki Rodgers, Stephanie Singleton, Joi Smith, Kaitlin Soderlund, Tori Spears and Stephanie York.
What a wonderful way to end the competition!!!! You dancers were absolutely fabulous. Shown here from left to row, front row, are Joi Smith, Kaitlin Soderlund, Courtney Ellis, Stephanie Singleton, Niki Rodgers and Jessica Holeman. Back row dancers are Bailea Jones, Tori Spears, Stephanie York, Amanda Cross and Jennifer McDonough.
The next dance competition for the Jacksonville Dance Company will be the Showstoppers competition in West Memphis to be held in late February.
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