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Web Release February 23, 2008
Dance students from Arkansas and Texas attended the Kids Artistic Revue Regional Dance Competition held Saturday and Sunday, February 23-24 at the Robinson Music Center in Little Rock.
Students from fourteen Dance Studios performed over three hundred dance numbers during this two-day competition that began early Saturday morning and ended Sunday afternoon around 4:00. The competition is different from most in that the competition levels are broken down into years competed by the average number of dancers in that group. The levels and years of competing are – Primary – up to two years; Secondary – from two to four years; Intermediate – from four to seven years; and Elite for dancers competing for over seven years. The performances are also categorized by size of the group, which includes solos; duets; trios; small groups – four to nine dancers; large groups – ten to nineteen dancers; and line – twenty and more dancers.
The performances are broken down into covered genre of dance including tap, jazz, lyrical, hiphop/funk, musical theater, open category, folk/ethnic, novelty, pom pon and modern, and more. The dance groups are also broken down by age groups: four and under; five – six; seven – eight; nine – eleven; twelve; thirteen – fourteen; fifteen – sixteen; and seventeen – nineteen. Also, the age of the dancers is determined by the average age of the group – so older dancers, e.g., age sixteen, can be combined with younger dancers, e.g., eight, so the average age would be twelve. It is important to remember that, and difficult to do, when you see the dancers that you know are several years older than your dancers who are really the age that you purport them to be.
Most dance competitions are adjudicated – in that each performance is scored against a score sheet and many performances may receive the same award. In the Kids Artistic Revue competition, the scoring awards are Top Second, First, Top First and Elite Top First. You don’t really how your dancers performed against other First, or Top First, Elite Top First performances until the top scores are announced – it is only in the Top Five or Top Ten that you discover who actually had a higher score. The performance will be competing against all performances in the bracket, no matter the genre. When the Top Ten or others are announced, it does not mean there were only ten or five performances or whatever in the category – that number is just what they have chosen to award.
Jacksonville Dance Company, with dancers--ages seven to eighteen years--entered fourteen performances, which included two tap solos, a lyrical duet, and dance genre groups including, tap, jazz, hiphop/funk, pom pon, and lyrical.
Jacksonville Dance Company dancers started Saturday morning off with a tap solo by Kaitlin Soderlund, age twelve, to “Hit Me Up.” Kaitlin was awarded a First-Place Award.
Following next for JDC was a tap solo by sixteen-year-old Hannah Ellis to “The Fever” for which she won a Top First Award.
Both Hannah and Kaitlin were invited to join Kids Artistic Revue summer workshop in New York City. The award is called the All-Star KAR Kids Invitation and it’s an invitation for dancers or studios to join the KAR staff and other professionals for a week-long dance seminar in New York City. The dancers will take a series of master classes, meet and study with the world famous Rockettes, attend Broadway shows and also have the opportunity to see some of New York City’s most popular attractions.
Following are the awards for the first session of secondary and intermediate dancers, small groups, ages five-six through fifteen and sixteen.
The Jacksonville Dance Company first group dance was in the Secondary, Small Group, Tap, Age Nine, Division and was taught by Ms. Kim. The tap number, “Five, Six, Seven, Eight” won a Top-First Award. Dancers in this group are Amber Bajorek, Lauren Boatman, Kaitlynn Coleman, Maurie Gangluff, Kira Jinkins, Alexandria Leirer, Taylor Mays, Micah Perry and Heather Weth.
The “Five, Six, Seven, Eight” dancers also received the All-Star KAR Kids Invitation to New York city.
Dancing in Secondary, Small Group, Jazz, Age Thirteen, to “Let’s Get Loud” were Jessica Holeman, Jennifer McDonough, Niki Rodgers, Joi Smith, Kaitlin Soderlund, and Madison Winstead. This group, taught by Ms. Lois, won a Top First.
I was unable to get pictures of some of the dances because of "quick costume change." As it turned out, there would have been plenty of time and more, but I apologize that I do not have half of the photos. This photo was taken at Hot Springs with no time to spare, either.
Dancing in Secondary, Large Group, Hiphop/Funk, Age Ten, and winning a Top First were the “Shake” performers taught by Ms. Lois. Dancers in this performance were: Lauren Anderson, Amber Bajorek, Mackenzie Blanchard, Courtney Ellis, Paris Fonseca, Maitland Hurley, Terra Johnson, Tessa Johnson, Bailea Jones, Darby Lottner, Kendra Lytch, Taylor Mays, Micah Perry, Niki Rodgers, Madi Spears, Hannah Taylor and Lauren Travis.
(Taken at Hot Spring) No time for photos - about a fifteen-minute costume change.
Dancing in Secondary, Large Group, Pom Pon, Age Nine, and winning a Top First, were the “Little Momma” performers taught by Ms. Kim. The Dancers, who also placed Eighth in the Top Ten Highest Scoring Performances for their bracket, were: Alexandria Adams, Amber Bajorek, Mackenzie Blanchard, Elizabeth Clark, Kaitlynn Coleman, Maurie Gangluff, Kira Jinkins, Darby Lottner, Micah Perry, Tegan Rea, Niki Rodgers, Lauren Travis and Heather Weth.
The Little Momma performers were also extended the All-Star KAR Kids Invitation to New York City.
Dancing in Secondary, Large Group, Lyrical, Age Eleven, JDC dancers performing to “Never Alone” won an Elite Top First. These dancers, taught by Ms. Lois, are Amber Bajorek, Amanda Cross, Jessica Gardner, Tori Hanley, Christina Hensley, Amanda Hicks, Jessica Holeman, Briyana Isaac, Jessica McDonough, Niki Rodgers, Jordan Rogers, Samantha Sobba, Tori Spears and Madison Winstead.
Hot Springs photo - I just should have taken a photo before performance - sorry, Ladies!!! There probably would not have been a place large enough to pose the group.
These dancers were also awarded Fifth in the Top Ten Highest Scoring Performances in the Secondary, Large Group, Age Nine to Eleven performances. We were so proud of you ladies!!!
Dancing in Secondary, Large Group, Hiphop/Funk, average Age Thirteen, and winning a Top First for their performance to “Wait A Minute,” and taught by Ms. Lois, were the following performers: Amanda Cross, Cassidy Eberle, Tori Hanley, Jessica Holeman, Taylor Rai Johnson, Jessica McCauley, Jennifer McDonough, Stephanie Singleton, Joi Smith, Kaitlin Soderlund, Tori Spears, Kayla Vasquez, Madison Winstead and Stephanie York.
Hot Springs photo - so good, we didn't even care that there was no time for new photo.
In addition to winning a Top First, the “Wait A Minute” dancers won highest score in Top Three Performances and won a $100 check for the studio.
Dancing in Secondary Line Hiphop/Funk, average Age Twelve, to “Rewind” taught by Ms. Lois and winning a Top First were the following dancers: Amanda Cross, Amber Bajorek, Mackenzie Blanchard, Hannah Ellis, Tori Hanley, Jessica Holeman, Kira Jinkins, Taylor Rai Johnson, Terra Johnson, Tessa Johnson, Bailea Jones, Kendra Lytch, Micah Perry, Niki Rodgers, Stephanie Singleton, Joi Smith, Kaitlin Soderlund, Madi Spears, Tori Spears, Lindsey Sweet, Lauren Travis, Kayla Vasquez, Alana Whatley and Stephanie York.
Another Hot Springs photo - but good!!!
The “Rewind” dancers won the Top Performance in the Line Division and won a check for $125 for the studio.
Starting for Jacksonville Dance Company on Sunday morning were Tori Hanley and Tori Spears, in Intermediate Duet/Trio Lyrical, Age Thirteen. The dancers, taught by Ms. Lois, performed to “Black Velvet” and won an Elite Top First. They also won the Second High out of Top Five Scoring for all Performances in the age twelve – thirteen duet/trio performances.
Performing Intermediate, Small Group, Lyrical for Age Thirteen to “Three A. M.” taught by Ms. Lois, and winning a First Place were dancers: Amanda Cross, Tori Hanley, Jessica Holeman, Briyana Isaac, Tori Spears and Madison Winstead.
Hot Springs photo - Tori H. not in it.
Performing Intermediate, Small Group, Hiphop/Funk, Age Seventeen – Nineteen, and winning a Top First to “Tambourine” and instructed by Chris Williams, were: Emiley Bee, Hannah Ellis, Madison Hurley, Ashley McCutcheon and Jessica Raines. The dancers performed with special on-stage effects.
These Senior Dancers gave it their ALL and were exhausted. Great going, Ladies!!!
Performing to “Hand Clap” in the Primary Small Group Hiphop/Funk category were JDC’s youngest dancers, average Age Seven – Eight. Instructed by Ms. Sara, and winning a Top First, performers were: Regan Campbell, Mackenzie Ellis, Alexandria Leirer, Tegan Rea, Emily Snell, Mattie Taylor, Katie Turner and Michael York.
What Hams!!!! And what a good job they did on-stage. We were really proud of each of you. And what's more important -- you were proud of yourselves!!! We all need to take lessons from them on facials and attitude!!!
The “Hand Clap” performers won Eighth in the Top Ten for the Primary division, ages four through eight.
The last performance of the competition for JDC was the Intermediate, Small Group, Tap, Age Twelve, dancers who won a Top First for their performance to “Dancin’ Fool” that was also instructed by Ms. Sara. Tapping in this performance were: Jessica Holeman, Briyana Isaac, Hannah Moler, Bailey Jo Rhodes, Kassie Shepard and Kaitlin Soderlund.
Ladies, your technique and complicated routine was not to be outdone!
Really one of your best performances!!!
For the most part, it was a fun competition - know some of you were rushed on the three older hiphop numbers, but we were so very proud of each of you, young to older, primary to advanced. Great job, Dancers!!!
The last performance of the competition for JDC was the Intermediate, Small Group, Tap, Age Twelve, dancers who won a Top First for their performance to “Dancin’ Fool”
that was also instructed by Ms. Sara. Tapping in this performance were: Jessica Holeman, Briyana Isaac, Hannah Moler, Bailey Jo Rhodes, Kassie Shepard and Kaitlin Soderlund.