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TALENT ON PARADE

NATIONAL COMPETITION - July 7 - 11th

Page Two

Also, leaving everything on stage and starting things off with a bang for JDC, were the Senior Dancers who performed to "Boom." Their performance was very high energy and so exciting.  This number was choreographed by Ms. Lois and more recently taught by Ms. Sara.  The dancers, who earned an Elite Top First, were Mackenzie Blanchard, Amanda Cross, Maitland Hurley, Bailea Jones, Niki Rodgers, Joi Smith, Kaitlin Soderlund, Tori Spears, Kayla Vasquez and Rachel Wyrick.

Posing left to right are Mackenzie, Kaitlin, Tori, Kayla, Maitland, Bailea, Joi, Rachel, Amanda and Niki.  Great job, Dancers!

Following the Awards ceremony and Showdown for Large Groups and Lines, Senior small group performances began, and our dancers performed in rapid succession (in most cases), beginning in a great way with the tap performance to "Five Guys Named Moe," for which the dancers earned a Diamond Elite Top First!!!

They were entered in the Music Theater category and not only did they earn a Diamond Elite Top First, they also won the Category Cup - that means that they had the highest score in their category.  Sara was the choreographer and teacher to the dancers, Jessica Holeman, Bailey Jo Rhodes, Kassie Shepard, Kaitlin Soderlund and Tori Spears.

We thought the picture would be pretty with the view behind,  but even though the sun was not shining out there, it may still be difficult to see the pretty faces of the dancers, left to right, Kassie, Jessica, Bailey Jo, Kaitlin and Tori.

Scheduled only ten minutes later was "Hoodie" which included some very quick costume changes for the dancers in another of the JDC tap numbers; "Hoodie" is the tap dance between the fashionistas and the nerds in the Open Category, Intermediate Division.  They won an Elite Top First and also placed in a tie for Fifth in the Top Ten Intermediate Performances, ages thirteen-fourteen.  This dance was choreographed and taught by Ms. Sara.  Performers are Alexandria Adams, Jessica Holeman, Briyana Isaac, Hannah Moler, Bailey Jo Rhodes, Kassie Shepard, Kaitlin Soderlund and Tori Spears.

Back row, left to right, are Jessica, Kassie, Tori and Bailey Jo.  Front row left to right are Hannah, Alex, Kaitlin and Briyana.  (Hint - glasses with tape = nerds.)

The next number, winning an Elite Top First, was "Boom, Boom, Pow," another fast-moving tap in the Competitive Division, that was performed by Kira Jinkins, Hannah Moler, Bailey Jo Rhodes, Kassie Shepard, Kaitlin Soderlund and Tori Spears.  The performance was choreographed and originally taught by Ms. Emily before the birth of her daughter.  Since then, the class has been taught by Ms. Sara and/or Staff.

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

Entered in the Modern Category, Intermediate Division, "Miss Invisible," was performed by Sarah Chesser, Kaitlynn Coleman, Jessica Gardner, Katy Gorden, Laurel Hill, Jessica Holeman, Madison Winstead and Rachel Wyrick.  This performance that was awarded a Top First was choreographed and taught by Ms. Lindsey. 

We thought that "Miss Invisible" was going to go on way before it actually did, and no pictures were taken before and the dancers had about ten minutes to make a change for the next number.  

This picture was taken at a previous competition, but it does show all the dancers in "Miss Invisible."  On front row, from left to right, are Rachel, Katy, Jessica, Laurel, and Kaitlynn, and on the back row, left to right, are Jessica, Madison and Sarah.

Also entered in the Modern Category, "Let It Be" was awarded an Elite Top First.  Choreographed and taught originally by Ms. Lois and recently by Ms. Lindsey, the dancers in the performance were Amanda Cross, Allyson Ferren, Jessica Holeman, Briyana Isaac, Joi Smith, Tori Spears and Madison Winstead. 

Ending Pose - "Let It Be"

Seated, left to right, Amanda, Tori and Briyana.  Back row, left to right, are Jessica, Madison, Joi and Allyson.

Last performance of the competition for JDC was the jazz performance to "I Gotcha" by the Senior Dancers.  The performers, who won an Elite Top First, were Amanda Cross, Bailea Jones, Joi Smith, Kaitlin Soderlund, Tori Spears and Madison Winstead.  Ms. Sara was the choreographer and instructor.

Posing at the end of a very long day, were the Jazz Dancers, left to right, Joi, Amanda, Tori, Kaitlin, Madison and Bailea.

At the beginning of the competition (before the group performances) the JDC soloists performed. 

On Wednesday, Kira Jinkins performed her tap to "Say Hey I Love You" and won an Elite Top First.  She also won Second Place in the Top Ten Intermediate Performances.

This was taken of Kira the day after her competition.  We are so proud of how well she has done this year.  Her dance was choreographed and originally taught by Ms. Emily but taught for several competitions by Ms. Sara.  At the regional Talent on Parade competition in Little Rock at the end of April and first of May, Kira was chosen as a dancer to perform in the Junior Top Starz performance at the Nationals Competition.  The Starz performers were chosen from the soloist routines.  The nearly 100 junior dancers performed many extra hours during the days of the competition and performed an awesome hiphop dance on Friday evening before the Awards Ceremony.

Kira - in her Top Starz Performance Outfit that her mother designed.

Amanda Cross performed her solo to "Soulmate" early Thursday morning in the Open Category and was awarded a Top First.  Amanda's dance was choreographed and taught by Ms. Lois.

This cute picture of Amanda was taken on Thursday morning after her performance.  This dress, however, was not her costume.

Kaitlin Soderlund performed her tap solo to "Jungle Beat" and won an Elite Top First.  Kaitlin's performance was choreographed and taught to her by Ms. Sara.

Kaitlin in her "Jungle Beat" tap costume.

Kaitlin, in her Top Starz outfit, shown here, before performing Saturday night in the large Senior Top Starz amazing hiphop routine performed by around 100 top senior dancers from the Talent on Parade regional competitions held earlier in the spring.

Jessica Holeman completed the JDC solo routines on Thursday afternoon with her modern routine to "Danger Keep Away".  Jessica won a Top First for her performance and her dance was choreographed and taught by Ms. Sara.

Jessica - taken before her performance

More behind-the-scenes pictures and information will be added Wednesday afternoon.  Would like to promise you that they will all be in the same vein as the following picture - probably not quite so exciting, but I think you will enjoy the pictures.

Just in case you don't recognize her - it's Ms. Sara in Kaitlin's costume tutu!!!!!!!

I neglected to link this page to Page Three - for Behind-the-Scenes photos!

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