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TALENT ON PARADE

NATIONAL COMPETITION - July 7 - 11th

Jacksonville Dance Company (JDC) members and teachers worked and practiced from last August until the first week of July for the BIG WEEK when they competed in the Talent on Parade National Dance Competition!!!!  Yea - we made it!!!!!!

Teachers, members, grandparents, aunts and uncles of JDC attended the Talent on Parade National Dance Competition that was held in Branson, Missouri, at the Branson Convention Center.  The competition began at 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 7th and ended Sunday night about 10:30 p.m. July 11th.  It was a great competition with dancers from over 106 dance companies and studios attending.  Dance companies from the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas, as well as nearly 30 studios from Arkansas, were represented in the competition.  This was the thirteenth year for Talent on Parade, which began with about 50 acts represented in that first year and right at 1300 acts were represented this year in this five-day competition!!!!

Most competitions are divided by size of group, genre of dance, and age. 

Age divisions follow for solos:  ages five-six; ages seven-eight (Petite); ages nine-ten (Junior); ages eleven-twelve (Preteen); ages thirteen-fourteen (Junior Teen); ages fifteen-sixteen (Teen); ages seventeen-eighteen (Senior); nineteen and above (Adult).  Ages of performers in the group performances, however, are averaged and have fewer age breakdowns than the solos.

Divisions of size of groups for this Talent on Parade are:  solo; duet; trio; small groups (four to nine dancers); large groups (ten to sixteen); and Line, seventeen performers and more.                                                       

JDC competed twenty acts with four of those being solos.  Category of the JDC dances included jazz, tap, hiphop, musical theater, modern, lyrical and open category.  JDC soloists competed on Wednesday and Thursday.  The performers did a great job and we were proud of all of them.

Small Group Younger Performances for JDC began Friday afternoon with the performance in the novice, petite (average age seven-eight) category to "Do the Harry."  Dancers in this group were were Morgan Blanchard, Chandler Dean, Jaimee Hall, Lauren Miller and Neely Taylor.  The young performers, who are instructed by Ms. Sara, were awarded an Elite Top First and, additionally, won Sixth in the Top Ten Novice Performances for their hiphop performance.

Smiling proudly here, from left to right, are Lauren, Morgan, Jaimee, Chandler and Neely, who won an Elite Top First for their performance to "Do the Harry."

Competing tap in the Intermediate category to "Double Dutch Bus" and winning a Top First were Amber Bajorek, Katy Gorden, Julia Johnson, Madi Spears, Hannah Taylor and Ryann Young.  The dance was choreographed and taught by Ms. Sara.

From left to right, "Double Dutch Bus" dancers are (back row) Hannah, Julia and Katy.  Next are Ryann, Madi and Amber.

Ms. Lois snapped this cute picture just as the girls were ready to go on stage to perform!!!

Performing hiphop in the Intermediate Category to "Ice Cream Boogie" were Amber Bajorek, Reagan Campbell, Julia Johnson, Madi Spears, and Hannah Taylor.  The performance, choreographed and taught by Ms. Sara, won a Top First.

From left to right are Hannah, Julia, Reagan, Amber and Madi.

Next JDC Intermediate Category performance, in the Character category, was "Cat in the Hat." Performing tap in this dance, which won an Elite Top First, were Alexandria Adams, Amber Bajorek, Kira Jinkins, Micah Perry, Tegan Rea, Kassie Shepard and Ryann Young.  This dance was choreographed and taught by Ms. Sara.

Back row, left to right, are Kassie, Alex, Tegan, and Amber.  Front row, l to r, are Ryann, Micah and Kira.

Competing jazz, also in Intermediate Category, to "P. Y. T." and winning a Top First were Jessica Gardner, Katy Gorden, Micah Perry and Mattie Taylor.  This jazz performance was taught and  choreographed by Ms. Lindsey.

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

The last performance for JDC on Friday night was the modern performance to "Grace" which was choreographed and taught by Ms. Lindsey.  The dancers performed beautifully and won an Elite Top First.  Dancers in this group were Amber Bajorek, Katy Gorden, Hannah Moler and Madi Spears.

Demonstrating part of a feat that they perform in "Grace" left to right, are Amber, Katy who is holding Madi, and Hannah.

The evening ended about 10:30 Friday evening.  I'll write more about the awards, the TOP Showdown at each award ceremony and the performance by the Top Starz dancer later in the article.

The morning started early on Saturday with the performance at 8:40 a.m. to "We're in the Money."  An 8:40 performance meant that the dancers had to be there by 7:30!!! 

The JDC dancers competed tap to "We're in the Money" in Novice, ages nine-ten, and won an Elite Top First.  They tied for sixth place out of Top Ten, Novice Division, and also won a Judges' Choice Award of "Terrific Tap." This group was the only JDC group to receive the special Judges' Choice Award. Competing in this performance were Morgan Blanchard, Alex Pettus, Tegan Rea, Mattie Taylor and Katie Turner.  The performance was choreographed and taught by Ms. Sara.

From left to right are Mattie, Morgan, Tegan, Katie and Alex.

Ms. Lindsey's Hiphop performers competed to "Show Out," also in the Novice Division, and the dancers won an Elite Top First.  They also won Second out of the Top Ten performances in the Novice Division.  The dancers really rocked the house and we were very proud of them.  Of course, we are so proud of all of our dancers and their performances.  Performing in "Show Out" were Abbye Cody, Madison Coffer, Keyerra Collins, Hallie Hankins, Alex Pettus, Tegan Rea, Emily Snell, Katie Turner and Bailey Weathers.  Also, this is not the first time that this group has won a top prize!  Congratulations, Dancers!!!

Posing before their performance, standing are Emily and Katie.  Seated, left to right, are Bailey, Tegan, Alex, Abbye, Madison and Hallie.  Also performing, but not shown was Keyerra.

Pleasing the audience as in their past performances, were the dancers in the "Fresh Prince" performance.  The number, choreographed and taught by Ms. Lois and Ms. Sara, won a Diamond Elite Top First, and included the following performers:  Reagan Campbell, Sarah Chesser, Abbye Cody, Madison Coffer, Kaitlynn Coleman, Keyerra Collins, Amanda Cross, Chandler Dean, Maitland Hurley, Bailea Jones, Micah Perry, Alex Pettus, Niki Rodgers, B. J. Smith, Joi Smith, Emily Snell, Madi Spears, Hannah Taylor, Mattie Taylor, Neely Taylor, Katie Turner, Kayla Vasquez and Rachel Wyrick.

The "Fresh Prince" performers posed before performing; if we try to take a photo afterwards, they are all breathing so hard, it's difficult to take an in-focus photo!!  We are so proud of these dancers as they give it their all on that stage.  Standing, back row, left to right, are B.J., Joi, Kayla, Niki, Rachel, Alex, Amanda, Maitland and Sarah.  Second row, Keyerra, Reagan, Katie, Madison, Hannah, Bailea, Madi, and Kaitlynn.  Front row, Emily, Abbye, Chandler, Neely, Mattie and Micah.

The evening ended with an amazing performance by the Senior Top Starz dancers, the TOP Showdown of top numbers and awards, and finishing up about 10:30 p.m.  Luckily, our first number, our dancers in "Boom" did not have to be there until 9:30 a.m.

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 cute 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!!!!!!!

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