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Revolution Talent Competition
STATEHOUSE CONVENTION CENTER - A Fun Day!
The Jacksonville Dance Company members attended the fairly newly-formed dance competition - the Revolution Talent Competition. It was a small competition that was held in one day at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock and the day turned out to be quite fun. Not many pictures were taken because of the quick costume changes, so I will just use what is available - professional pictures, which, of course, as you can see are not completed.
In addition to the performances of the dancers, one of the best things about any competition is the support of our wonderful parents and families for the performances. Being a small competition, a lot of hurried costume changes were made, but we think all had a good time.
Besides the usual brackets of genre of dance, number and ages of performers, the dance numbers were divided into three performance levels: red, white and blue with blue being for those performers or group of performers who have the most experience, and red, the least, both in years of competition and in class. Jacksonville dancers competed in the red and white categories and ages of dancers in each were averaged to determine age of the dancers in each performance. (Thus the same dancers may perform in different-age brackets for different performances.) The awards were Honorable Mention, Bronze, Silver, Elite Silver, Gold, Elite Gold and Platinum. Performances could also win First, if they were first in their specific dance genre and age category. Special Judges awards were given to four or five individuals. Performances were honored, according to points, making up the list of top of all performances in their category and age bracket. Competition overall awards for all performances were made at the end of all group performances.
The day started off on a great note with the wonderful tap performance by Kira Jinkins to "Say Hey I Love You." She also won second out of all the solos in the white category and her age bracket. Choreographer and former instructor for Kira was Ms. Emily (before she had her baby girl) and Ms. Sara instructs Kira now.
Kira
The JDC Hiphop performance to "Do the Harry" began the small group performances of the day. Competing in the age bracket of seven - eight, the dancers won an Elite Gold and won Third Place in Top Overall Performance in all performances in the red category, ages eight and under. Performing in this group were Morgan Blanchard, Chandler Dean, Jaimee Hall, Lauren Miller and Neely Taylor. Reagan Hodson could not be there as she was competing in the Level Four State Fun meet at the same time as the dance performance. Choreographer and instructor for this group is Ms. Sara.
Shown here, before performing, from left to right are Neely, Lauren, Jaimee, Chandler and Morgan.
Performing in small group, red category, hiphop performance to "Show Out" were Abbye Cody, Keyerra Collins, Hallie Hankins, Alex Pettus, Tegan Rea, Emily Snell and Katie Turner. Unfortunately, Madison Coffer, who had planned to perform, was watching from the audience. Earlier in the week, Madison had rolled her ankle and had broken a bone. We were all disappointed for her. The group performance was outstanding and the performers were awarded not only a Platinum-First (first in this case meaning first in their category) but also won top performance in all red, ages nine to eleven small group performances. Choreographer and instructor for this group is Ms. Lindsey.
Shown here in their professional photo, left to right are Abbye and Tegan (kneeling) and standing are Emily, Madison (who was unable to perform) Keyerra and Alex. Also performing, but not shown here, was Hallie and Katie.
Performing tap to "We're in the Money" were Alex Pettus, Katie Turner, Mattie Taylor, Morgan Blanchard and Tegan Rea. The performers won an Elite Gold-First, and placed fourth in the top red performances. Choreographer and instructor for this group is Ms. Sara.
Shown here from left to right are Alex, Mattie, Tegan, Morgan and Katie.
Performing in the Character Dance, white category, to "Cat in the Hat" were Alexandria Adams, Amber Bajorek, Kira Jinkins, Micah Perry, Tegan Rea, Kassie Shepard and Ryann Young. This group won an Elite Gold-First, and placed second in overall points, in age bracket, white division. Choreographer and instructor for this group is Ms. Sara.
Seated are Ryann and Tegan; standing left to right, are Micah, Kira, Kassie, Alexandria and Amber.
Performing hiphop, white division, to "Ice Cream Boogie" were Amber Bajorek, Regan Campbell, Julia Johnson, Madi Spears, Hannah Taylor and Michael York. The performers won an Elite Gold-First, and Third in their Overall Top performances. Choreographer and instructor for this group is Ms. Sara.
Standing, left to right, are Hannah, Regan and Michael, and lower are Amber, Madi and Julia.
Performing next in white, small group jazz to "P. Y. T." were Jessica Gardner, Katy Gorden, Micah Perry and Mattie Taylor. The group were awarded an Elite Gold-First and and Fourth in their Top Overall Performances. Choreographer and instructor for this group is Ms. Lindsey.
From left to right are Mattie, Micah, Katy and Jessica
The next performance was by the small lyrical group, white division, to "Grace." The performers in this group are Amber Bajorek, Katy Gorden, Hannah Moler and Madi Spears. The group was awarded an Elite Gold-First and won the First Place in the Top Overall Performances. The beautiful and moving performance was choreographed and taught by Ms. Lindsey.
Kneeling are Madi and Katy; standing are Amber and Hannah.
Performing last in the small group, white division, before Awards was JDC dancers performing tap to "Double Dutch Bus." The performers--Amber Bajorek, Katy Gorden, Julia Johnson, Hannah Taylor and Ryann Young-- were awarded a Gold-First for their performance. The number was choreographed and taught by Ms. Sara.
Standing, left to right, are Katy, Hannah, Julia, Amber and Ryann. Kneeling is Madi.
Following the Awards session at noon, the JDC senior lyrical group performed in the contemporary, small group, white division to "Let it Be" which was choreographed and taught by Ms. Lois. Winning an Elite-Gold, performing to this beautiful number were Amanda Cross, Allyson Ferren, Jessica Holeman, Briyana Isaac, Joi Smith, Tori Spears and Madison Winstead.
Back row, left to right, are Jessica, Allyson, Tori, Amanda and Joi - front row are Madison and Briyana.
Performing next for JDC were the large group lyrical dancers who performed in the white category-Contemporary, to "Miss Invisible," that was choreographed and taught by Ms. Lindsey. The performers, who won an Elite Gold-First, were Sarah Chesser, Kaitlynn Coleman, Jessica Gardner, Katy Gorden, Laurel Hill, Jessica Holeman, Madison Winstead and Rachel Wyrick.
Standing, from left to right, are Jessica, Rachel, Madison, Katy, Kaitlynn, and Laurel. Seated is Jessica.
Performing in Small Group, Jazz, white division, to "I Gotcha" were Amanda Cross, Bailea Jones, Joi Smith, Kaitlin Soderlund, Tori Spears, Carol Walters and Madison Winstead. This number, choreographed and taught by Ms. Sara, was awarded an Elite Gold-First and Fourth in Top Overall Performances.
The dancers in this great jazz performance, left to right, are Amanda, Tori, Joi, Carol, Madison, Kaitlin and Bailea.
Performing tap in the white, Small Group Open Category to "Hoodie" were Alexandria Adams, Jessica Holeman, Hannah Moler, Bailey Jo Rhodes, Kassie Shepard, Kaitlin Soderlund and Tori Spears. This performance, choreographed and taught by Ms. Sara, won a Platinum First and First Place in the Top Overall Performances.
Posing here, from left to right, are the Nerds, Jessica, Kaitlin, Alexandria and Hannah; also left to right are the Fashionistas - Kassie, Bailey Jo, Tori and Briyana.
Performing next in small group tap, white division to "Boom, Boom, Pow" were Kira Jinkins, Hannah Moler, Bailey Jo Rhodes, Kassie Shepard, Kaitlin Soderlund and Tori Spears. The number, choreographed and taught by Ms. Emily, was awarded an Elite Gold-First and Second Place in the Overall Top Performances.
Left to right are Kassie, Kaitlin, Hannah, Kira, Bailey Jo and Tori.
Performing tap in small group Musical Theater, blue division, to "Five Guys Names Moe" were Jessica Holeman, Bailey Jo Rhodes, Kassie Shepard, Kaitlin Soderlund and Tori Spears. This performance, choreographed and taught by Ms. Sara, was awarded an Elite Gold-First.
Left to right are Kassie, Jessica, Tori, Bailey Jo and Kaitlin.
Performing in Large Group HipHop, white division, to "Boom" were Senior Dancers Mackenzie Blanchard, Amanda Cross, Maitland Hurley, Bailea Jones, Niki Rodgers, Joi Smith, Kaitlin Soderlund, Tori Spears, Kayla Vasquez, Carol Walters and Rachel Wyrick. This high-energy performance, choreographed and taught by Ms. Lois, won a Platinum-First and also won First Place in the Top Overall Performances.
Front row, left to right - Bailea, Kaitlin and Mackenzie; second row - Niki, Rachel, Joi and Carol; last row - Maitland, Amanda and Tori.
The last group performance for JDC was a Line Production to "Fresh Prince" which, choreographed and taught by Ms. Lois and Ms. Sara, won a Platinum-First. This number is so much fun to watch, with dancers from ages five to seventeen or eighteen delighting the audience with their hiphop performance. The dancers in this performance are Reagan Campbell, Abbye Cody, Kaitlynn Coleman, Keyerra Collins, Amanda Cross, Chandler Dean, 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.
Remember, these professional pictures are not finished - will substitute when I receive the finished product.
There were Special Awards at the end of the group performances and Jacksonville Dance Company was excited and pleased to have won the following:
Two choreography honors were awarded for the competition and one of those choreography awards was awarded to Ms. Lindsey Sweet for her choreography to "Show Out."
The Entertainment Award for the entire competition went to "Cat in the Hat."
The FDC-Federation of Dance Competitions Award was won by JDC "Fresh Prince." A link will be added later to the website where everyone can vote for the video of the best regional dances. Studio winner of this award will be able to to send two candidates to New Orleans for further instruction. We, of course, want to win that, and a voting link will be added as soon as possible.
Our congratulations to our dancers and instructors--Ms. Lindsey, Ms. Lois, and Ms. Sara--for all their hard work and for these special awards, as well.
Solos by three Jacksonville Dance Company performers followed the group awards.
Jessica Holeman performed a modern dance in the white division to "Danger Keep Away" and she won an Elite Gold-First and Fifth Place in Top Overall Performances. The performance was choreographed and taught by Ms. Sara.
Jessica
Amanda Cross performed a lyrical dance in the white division in the open category to "Soulmate" and she won an Elite Gold-First. Ms. Lois choreographed and instructed this performance.
Amanda
Kaitlin Soderlund competed a tap solo in the white division to "African Beat" which was choreographed and instructed by Ms. Sara. Kaitlin was awarded an Elite Gold-First and Second Place in Top Overall Performances. Kaitlin was also awarded a Special Judge's Award of "Fiercest Feet" which so aptly applies to Kaitlin!
Kaitlin
The Revolution Competition was a small competition and it was a very fun day for Jacksonville Dance Company. The next competition will be the Kids Artistic Review (KAR) which will be held in West Memphis in late April.
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Saturday, 27th
10:12 Say Hey I Love You Kira Jinkins – Solo
11:18 Do The Harry Hip/Hop 1
11:31 Show Out Hip/Hop 2
11:37 We’re In The Money Tap
11:44 Cat In The Hat
11:47 Ice Cream Boogie Hip/Hop 3
11:50 P.Y.T Jazz 1
11:53 Grace Lyrical 1
11:57 Double Dutch Bus Tap 3
12:15 AWARDS
1:34 Let It Be Lyrical 2
Not a misprint on our part…there will be time allotted for changing
1:34 Miss Invisible Lg. Lyrical
1:41 I Gotcha Jazz 2
1:47 Hoodie Tap
1:50 Boom, Boom, Pow Hip/Hop Tap
2:17 5 Guys Named Moe 5 Guys
2:47 Boom Hip/Hop 4
3:15 Fresh Prince Lg. Hip/Hop
4:15 AWARDS
5:42 Danger Keep Away Jessica Holeman - Solo
5:48 Soul-mate Amanda Cross – Solo
6:54 African Beat Kaitlin Soderlund – Solo
7:30 AWARDS
Please remember to be there one hour before competition time ready to take the stage. Looks like this is going to be a short one; so let’s enjoy the day.
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