RETURN HOME RETURN TO DANCE COMPANY
TALENT ON PARADE DANCE COMPETITION
ROBINSON AUDITORIUM - LITTLE ROCK
APRIL 24 - 26 - 2009
JDC Group Performances began Sunday about noon with the Senior Lyrical Dancers performing to "Storm," for which they won a Top First award and they also won Fifth in the Top Ten Small Group Intermediate Performances. Dancers in this group, who are taught by Ms. Lois, are Jessica Holeman, Briyana Isaac, Jessica McDonough, Niki Rodgers and Tori Spears.
From Left to right are Jessica, Briyana, Niki, Tori and Jessica
Next to perform were the Senior Tap Dancers to "Shake Your Pompom." The dancers won an Elite Top First and also placed First in the Top Ten Intermediate Performances, winning a check for the Studio. They also tied for Seventh Place in the Top Ten High Point of all Senior, Small Group Performances (45). Dancing in this exciting performance were Alexandria Adams, Jessica Holeman, Briyana Isaac, Hannah Moler, Bailey Jo Rhodes, Kassie Shepard, Kaitlin Soderlund, Tori Spears, and Stephanie York. Ms. Emily instructs this group of performers in their great tap number.
Isn't this a fantastic picture of the Senior Tap Dancers taken from the front
balcony of Robinson Auditorium with the Courthouse in the background.
These dancers, who are so much fun to watch, from left to right, are Kassie,
Jessica, Tori, Stephanie, Bailey Jo, Alex, Briyana, Kaitlin and Hannah.
Bring out the sun glasses!!!!
Performing next to "Get Up Off That Thing" were the Senior Jazz Dancers in the Large Group Performances. These dancers proudly won an Elite Top First, and placed Third in the Top Ten Intermediate Performances. They also won Fourth in the Large Group High Point Groups. Dancing in this top-notch performance were Amanda Cross, Courtney Ellis, Jessica Holeman, Bailea Jones, Jennifer McDonough, Niki Rodgers, Stephanie Singleton, Joi Smith, Kaitlin Soderlund, Tori Spears and Stephanie York. These dancers are instructed by Ms. Lois.
The dancers still needed the sun glasses but this was such a neat picture!!! Left to right, front row, are Jessica, Joi, Jennifer, Tori, Amanda and Stephanie S. Back row, l to r, are Niki, Bailea, Stephanie Y., Kaitlin and Courtney.
The last JDC performance of the competition was the hiphop performance by the JDC Senior Dancers to "Closer," which is also taught by Ms. Lois and which also won an Elite Top First. Additionally, they won Second in the Intermediate Top Ten Performances, thus giving Jacksonville Dance Company the Top Fifth, Top Third, Top Second and Top First in the Top Ten Intermediate Performances. The dancers use chairs within their hiphop performance, which gives the fast-paced, exciting dance a very unique look.
This "nutty" group of dancers has a great time dancing together and they exert so much energy when they perform. (See picture at end of article.) Front row, l to r, are Taylor Rai Johnson, Stephanie Singleton, Kendra Lytch, Bailea Jones, Maitland Hurley and Jessica Holeman. Second row, l to r, are Rachel Wyrick, Joi Smith, Jennifer McDonough, Kaitlin Soderlund, and Tori Hanley. Back row, l to r, are Tori Spears, Alana Whatley, Amanda Cross, Kayla Vasquez, Cassidy Eberle, Mackenzie Blanchard and Carol Walters. The dancers still had the "glow" from a very fast-paced performance and were enjoying the breeze blowing through this back entrance to Robinson.
This was the end of the competition for the group performances; but the competition actually began with solo performances on Friday at 8:40 a.m. with Alana Whatley's hiphop performance to Bojangles. This was Alana's first solo performance and she did a great job and won a First Place Award in her age division. She also won Fourth in the Intermediate Top Five Performances.
Alana is shown here before her hiphop performance.
Dancing the next solo for JDC was Stephanie York who performed a tap dance to "Girlfriend" and won a Top First Award. Stephanie also won Third Place in the Top Five Intermediate Solo Division for her age category.
Stephanie, after performing her tap dance, is shown here with her back to the Arkansas River.
Kaitlin Soderlund performed Friday afternoon in the solo competition, in the tap category. Kaitlin started off just great and within four measures of the beginning of her song, one shoe came off. She didn't even look at the shoe and kept right on performing. You would never have known she didn't have on both tap shoes and in spite of her lost shoe, it was the best Kaitlin had ever danced - great personality and facials - feet moving - great sounds from the one shoe - just a fantastic performance to "Do It Well" !!!! Evidently the judges thought so, too, as Kaitlin was awarded an Elite Top First. She was also given a Special Judge's award for "Doin' it Well'! She won first place in the Top Ten Intermediate Solos. She also won Eighth Place in the Overall High Point Awards for all Junior Teen and Teen Solo Performance awards. Additionally, Kaitlin was presented with an invitation to join the 2009 TOP STARZ Performance Team made up of other soloists. She will have the opportunity to join other performers in a special production performance at the National Competition in Branson this July, when JDC competes in the Talent on Parade Nationals.
Kaitlin, on her toes (both shoes) before her fantastic performance, in spite of losing her shoe when barely into the performance. Kaitlin won a number of awards at the competition.
Jessica Holeman performed a unique tap solo to "One Girl Revolution" and was awarded a First Place Award. Jessica also tied for Sixth Place in the Top Ten Intermediate Solos.
Jessica posed for me just before she went on to perform - actually, the competition was on a break or we would not have been able to take a picture at this time. Love the costume!!!
Bailey Jo Rhodes performed a fast-paced tap solo to "Low." Bailey Jo won a Top First Award and tied for Third in the Top Ten Intermediate Performances.
Bailey Jo posed before her solo tap performance.
Bailey Jo, Kaitlin and Jessica after a wonderful afternoon of solo performances. We all had a great time.
Jessica Holeman and Kassie Shepard tapped in their comedic musical theater performance to "Moses Supposes" and won a First Place Award in the Saturday night Senior Duet Competition. They also won Fifth Place in the Top Five Intermediate Duet Performances.
Performing a lyrical dance Sunday were trio dancers Katy Gorden, Bailea Jones and Madi Spears. The dancers performed to "Broken" and won a Top First and also placed Tenth in the Top Ten Intermediate Performances. Ms. Lindsey choreographed their lyrical dance and teaches the girls in their beautiful number. They are our youngest dancers to compete in solo, duet or trio, and we were very proud of them. Bailea was quite ill during their performance due to overheating and was not enjoying having her picture taken after the performance. We had tried to go to the fountain out front, but just couldn't make it that far.
Madi, Katy and Bailea after their performance early Sunday morning.
It was really good to see Ms. Kim and Mr. Kris again at the competition. They came two years ago to Jacksonville to spend a weekend choreographing for the Dance Company. We will be seeing them again at Nationals. Ms. Kim occasionally judges competitions but was tabulating the scores for this competition. Mr. Kris keeps everyone entertained at the competitions, and especially at the National Competitions, and is such a favorite of all the performers (and the parents). They all love his crazy antics.
Mr. Kris as he stoops to talk to us during the competition.
It was so good to see both Mr. Kris and Ms. Kim.
Mr. Kris' craziness must have rubbed off on the Senior Hiphop Dancers. This was the picture that they wanted to represent them, but I "made" them pose again for me which sort of turned out to be a serious pose - about as serious as they can get, anyway!
The Jacksonville Dance
Company will travel to Branson, Missouri, this July for the Talent on Parade
National Competition.
RETURN HOME RETURN TO DANCE COMPANY