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February 27 - March 1, 2009
Web Release March 2, 2009
JDC ATTENDS SECOND DANCE COMPETITION OF ITS SEASON -
SNOWING AND FREEZING OUTSIDE
BUT JDC HOT, HOT, HOT INSIDE!!!
SHOWSTOPPERS - Page One
Jacksonville Dance Company members were surprised by the snow and some had problems getting to the competition, with the two-hour trip taking up to almost twice that time, (because of backed-up traffic due to snowy, icy roads) but once they got there, everybody was ready to go within minutes and JDC was onstage performing! We thank everybody for making that extra effort!
The competition was hosted by Showstoppers Dance Competitions, which has been in business for thirty years, with twenty-five of those years being hosted in West Memphis at their Civic Center. Dance companies were not listed in the program so it was difficult to tell how many attended. I know that there were at least two companies from Arkansas; large companies from Memphis and Clarksville, and other companies from Tennessee; a very large company from Huntsville, Alabama; companies from Mississippi, and several companies from other areas. The competition began with solos at 4:00 on Friday afternoon and ended Sunday night about 7:15 with the culmination of awards for the super groups (size of group of dancers), with one competition numbering 81 dancers from the Huntsville dance company. Throughout the competition, the dance companies all seemed to really enjoy themselves and had fun entertaining.
The arches are blue lights
Dance groups included solos; duet/trios; small group - dances including four to nine performers; large groups including ten to 19 dancers; and super groups with 20 and more dancers. Also, the competition was divided between recreational groups and competitive groups, genre, size of performing group and average age of performers.
All ages were the average of the dance group and ages divisions or category were broken down from age four to eight being in the Mini Category; ages nine to eleven were in the Junior category; ages twelve to fourteen were in the Teen category; and ages fifteen and up were in the Senior category. Ages are averaged for the groups, so we might have age sixteen dancers with age seven and the average might be age twelve. Awards given were silver, gold, platinum and double platinum, with gold being awarded in probably 90% of the cases. A few platinum and a few double platinum awards were also honored. After the individual awards for the individual or group act were announced, the Top Ten awards were honored. Showstoppers seemed unique in the competitions we’ve attended, in that they announced the placement of the group, beginning with Ten and working down to One (or the top winner of the session) as usual, but they then showed a video clip of that particular number so you recalled who the group was and to what they had performed. And they had the performers give their names. The video showing made the competition more meaningful and more entertaining because it brought back the remembrance of just how good the numbers were and who they were. It seemed that all the performers enjoyed watching the clips whether they were in them or had missed the performance because they were backstage changing during the performance.
For Jacksonville Dance Company (JDC), the competition began Friday evening after 9:00 with the tap solo by Kaitlin Soderlund to “Do It Well.” Kaitlin, competing against 26 other competitors, won a Gold First award and also won the Ninth Place in the Top Ten for this session. Ms. Emily Neal was Kaitlin’s instructor.
Kaitlin - Tap Solo to "Do It Well"
Kaitlin agreed to pose in front of the Showstoppers Logo and stage backdrop.
Early Saturday morning (considering 8:47 early when you are supposed to arrive one hour early) Madi Spears and Bailea Jones performed lyrical to their trio performance to “Broken” which was choreographed and instructed by Ms. Lindsey Sweet. Unfortunately Katy Gorden, the third dancer was too ill to attend. This was the first time for the girls to compete in a very small group but they pulled it off and won a Gold First (meaning first in their age group). They also won the Ninth Place in the Top Ten - out of 24 competitive duet and trio performances.
Madi and Bailea after their lyrical duet to "Broken." Katy Gorden, the third dancer in the trio was too ill to attend.
Ms. Laurel asked for this beautiful lyrical pose - Bailea and Madi
Small groups competed the rest of that morning and JDC began with the small group hiphop for ages seven and eight (average) and won a Gold First and won Sixth Place in the Top Seven Mini-aged dancers with their performance to “When I Grow Up,” which was choreographed and taught by Ms. Emily Neal and Ms. Sara Rettstatt. Competing in this performance were Regan Campbell, Abbye Cody, Alexandria Pettus, Tegan Rea, Emily Snell, Mattie Taylor, and Katie Turner.
Abbye, Alexandria, Emily, Katie, Regan, Tegan, and Mattie - "When I Grow Up"
Competing right after our younger hiphop dancers were the JDC dancers (average age eleven) who competed Junior Division to hiphop “Shawnty Get Loose.” They won a Gold First and proudly tied for Sixth Place in the Top Ten, Junior Division. Ms. Lois Bryan is the choreographer-instructor for this group, which includes Lauren Anderson, Amber Bajorek, Mackenzie Ellis, Paris Fonseca, Tessa Johnson, Micah Perry, Madi Spears, Hannah Taylor and Michael York.
Mackenzie, Micah, Amber, Madi, Tessa, Lauren, Paris, Hannah and Michael - before performing to "Shawty Get Loose."
Also competing in the Small Group, Junior Division, were Christina Hensley, Bailea Jones, Kendra Lytch and Madi Spears. (Katy Gorden is also a member of this group.) The group performed a lyrical dance to “Walk You Home” and won a Gold First and tied in a three-way tie to Tenth in Top Ten. Ms. Lindsey also choreographed and instructs this lyrical number.
Christina, Bailea, Kendra and Madi - "Walk You Home"
The last JDC Saturday performance was the Small Group tap number to “Dr. Rhythm” performed by Amber Bajorek, Kira Jinkins, Micah Perry and Ryann Young. The group, instructed by Ms. Emily, won a Gold First.
Micah, Ryann, Kira and Amber - "Dr. Rhythm
The Saturday competition for JDC ended with the 2:00 awards. It was about that time that the snow started for the afternoon and many of us ended up in the hotels early for the evening, which was great, because for some of us, the Sunday morning competition started early with the comedic musical theater performance of “Moses Supposes” by Jessica Holeman and Kassie Shepard.
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