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Jacksonville Dance Company Attends

Kids Artistic Revue Competition

Jacksonville Dance Company attended the Kids Artistic Revue Competition April 23-25, which was held at the West Memphis Civic Auditorium. Awards and pictures are shown below; however, pictures are from previous competitions or from our professional group pictures. Approximately 21 Dance Studios representing several states attended the competition.

As with all dance competitions, performances are broken down into size, years of performing or hours in class, age, and genre. JDC won some top awards and some cash prizes, as well.

The competition began Friday night with Amanda Cross performing a modern dance to "Soul-mate." Amanda won First Place with her solo.

The competition for the groups did not begin until late Saturday afternoon. The younger hiphop dancers performed to "Do the Harry" for which they won a First-Place award and also a Judges' Choice Award. Performing in this group were Morgan Blanchard, Chandler Dean, Jaimee Hall, Reagan Hodson, Lauren Miller and Neely Taylor.

Shown here left to right, front row, are Reagan, Neely, and Chandler. Back row are Lauren, Morgan and Jaimee.

Performing tap to "We're in the Money" were Katie Turner, Mattie Taylor, Morgan Blanchard and Tegan Rea. The performers, instructed by Ms. Sara, won a First-Place Award.

Shown here in their professional picture, from left to right are Alex, Mattie, Tegan, Morgan and Katie. However, Alex could not be there to perform with the dancers.

Performing in small group, hiphop performance to "Show Out" were Abbye Cody, Keyerra Collins, Hallie Hankins, Tegan Rea, Emily Snell and Bailey Weathers. The group won a Top First Award. Choreographer and instructor for this group is Ms. Lindsey.

Shown here in their professional photo, left to right are Abbye and Tegan (kneeling) and standing are Emily, Madison (who was still unable to perform due to foot injury) Keyerra and Alex. Also performing, but not shown here, were Hallie and Bailey; shown but unable to perform was Alex.

Rocking the house were Senior Dancers who performed hiphop to "Boom" were Mackenzie Blanchard, Amanda Cross, Maitland Hurley, Bailea Jones, Niki Rodgers, Joi Smith, Kaitlin Soderlund, Tori Spears, Kayla Vasquez, Carol Walters and Rachel Wyrick. This high-energy performance, choreographed and taught by Ms. Lois, won a Top First and placed third over all in the Top Overall Performances. Also exciting was the special invitation for the group to participate in a fun week of dance seminars and to attend special Broadway Shows this summer in New York City. Wouldn't that be fun!!!!!!! KAR says that "This invitation is made exclusively to selected All Star KAR Kids and their families."

Front row, left to right - Bailea, Kaitlin and Mackenzie; second row - Niki, Rachel, Joi and Carol; last row - Maitland, Amanda and Tori - not shown but also performing was Kayla.

After the afternoon awards, the first JDC group to perform in the evening performances was the Senior Lyrical Dancers who performed around 7:45 to "Let It Be." The dancers--Amanda Cross, Allyson Ferren, Jessica Holeman, Briyana Isaac, Joi Smith, Tori Spears and Madison Winstead--won a First Award.

Seated on floor are Allyson, Madison and Joi; seated on bench are Tori and Briyana, and standing are Jessica and Amanda.

Performing tap Small Group Open Category to "Hoodie" were Alexandria Adams, Jessica Holeman, Hannah Moler, Bailey Jo Rhodes, Kassie Shepard, Kaitlin Soderlund and Tori Spears. This performance, choreographed and taught by Ms. Sara, won a Top First and also won "Most Entertaining."

Posing here, from left to right, are the Nerds, Jessica, Kaitlin, Alexandria and Hannah; also left to right are the Fashionistas - Kassie, Bailey Jo, Tori and Briyana.

Performing tap in small group, Novelty, to "Five Guys Names Moe" were Jessica Holeman, Bailey Jo Rhodes, Kassie Shepard, Kaitlin Soderlund and Tori Spears. This performance, choreographed and taught by Ms. Sara, was awarded an Elite Top First. They also won First Over-All with $100 cash prize for the studio, AND, they were extended the invitation to join the KAR All Stars Seminar in New York.

Left to right are Kassie, Jessica, Tori, Bailey Jo and Kaitlin.

Performing in Small Group, Jazz, to "I Gotcha" were Amanda Cross, Bailea Jones, Joi Smith, Kaitlin Soderlund, Tori Spears, Carol Walters and Madison Winstead. This number, choreographed and taught by Ms. Sara, was awarded a First Place.

The dancers in this great jazz performance, left to right, are Amanda, Tori, Joi, Carol, Madison, Kaitlin and Bailea.

Performing around 9:45 Saturday night was the tap group that performed tap to "Boom, Boom, Pow." The performers--Kira Jinkins, Hannah Moler, Bailey Jo Rhodes, Kassie Shepard, Kaitlin Soderlund and Tori Spears--won an Elite Top First and won Third in the Over-All Top Performances. The number was originally choreographed and taught by Ms. Emily (before the birth of her new baby girl) and is now being taught by Ms. Sara (thanks, Ms. Sara!!!!)

Left to right are Kassie, Kaitlin, Hannah, Kira, Bailey Jo and Tori.

Awards followed the performance by our dancers and our groups didn't perform again until Sunday at 1:40; however, Kira, who performed in the last number on Saturday, performed her tap solo early Sunday morning to "Say Hey, I Love You." The late evening and early morning performances must not have bothered her too much cuz Kira won, not only an Elite Top First and a cash prize for the studio of $50 for solo performance, she also won First Overall in Top Solo Performances, AND, an invitation to the New York dance seminars for All Star KAR performers. Congratulations, Ms. Kira Jinkins!!!!!

Kira - Tap Solo Performance

Performing in Musical Theater to "Cat in the Hat" were Alexandria Adams, Amber Bajorek, Kira Jinkins, Micah Perry, Tegan Rea, Kassie Shepard and Ryann Young. This group won a Top First and won Sixth in Overall Top Awards, as well as received the "Most Entertaining" and they, too, were selected as KAR All Star performers to attend the dance seminars in New York City. Choreographer and instructor for this group is Ms. Sara.

Seated are Ryann and Tegan. Standing are Micah, Kira, Kassie, Alexandria and Amber.

Performing in small group tap to "Double Dutch Bus" were Amber Bajorek, Katy Gorden, Julia Johnson, Madi Spears, Hannah Taylor and Ryann Young-- were awarded a Gold-First for their performance. The number was choreographed and taught by Ms. Sara.

Standing, left to right, are Katy, Hannah, Julia, Amber and Ryann. Kneeling is Madi.

Performing next in small group jazz to "P. Y. T." were Jessica Gardner, Katy Gorden, Micah Perry and Mattie Taylor. The dancers were awarded a First Place for their performance, which was choreographed and instructed by Ms. Lindsey.

From left to right are Mattie, Micah, Katy and Jessica

Performing next for JDC were the large group lyrical dancers who performed to "Miss Invisible," that was choreographed and taught by Ms. Lindsey. The performers, who won a First Place were Sarah Chesser, Kaitlynn Coleman, Jessica Gardner, Katy Gorden, Laurel Hill, Jessica Holeman, Madison Winstead and Rachel Wyrick.

Standing, from left to right, are Jessica, Rachel, Madison, Katy, Kaitlynn, and Laurel. Seated is Jessica. Also competing but not shown was Sarah.

The next performance was by the small lyrical group to "Grace." The performers in this group are Amber Bajorek, Katy Gorden, Hannah Moler and Madi Spears. The group was awarded a First Place. The beautiful and moving performance was choreographed and taught by Ms. Lindsey.

Kneeling are Madi and Katy; standing are Amber and Hannah.

Performing small group hiphop to "Ice Cream Boogie" were Amber Bajorek, Julia Johnson, Madi Spears, Hannah Taylor and Michael York. The performers won a Top First, and Fifth in Overall Top performances. Choreographer and instructor for this group is Ms. Sara.

Standing, left to right, are Hannah, Reagan and Michael, and lower are Amber, Madi and Julia. Reagan was unable to compete to due attending Space Camp.

The last performance by JDC dancers was the wonderfully entertaining Line Production number to "Fresh Prince," which was choreographed and taught by Ms. Lois and Ms. Sara. The dancers won not only a Top First and won First Overall in Top performances, but they also won the $100 cash prize for the studio and were declared the "Most Entertaining!"

Audiences really enjoy this number as it is so much fun to watch, with dancers from ages five to seventeen or eighteen delighting the audience with their hiphop performance. The dancers in this performance are Abbye Cody, Kaitlynn Coleman, Keyerra Collins, Amanda Cross, Chandler Dean, Bailea Jones, Micah Perry, Niki Rodgers, B. J. Smith, Joi Smith, Emily Snell, Madi Spears, Hannah Taylor, Mattie Taylor, Neely Taylor, Katie Turner, Kayla Vasquez, Bailey Weathers and Rachel Wyrick.

"Fresh Prince" Performers

The Jacksonville Dance Company will compete next at the Talent on Parade Regional Competition that will be held this week beginning Thursday night, April 29th; Friday, April 30th; and Saturday and Sunday, May 1-2 at Robinson Auditorium, Little Rock.

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