Music General dancers participate in regional contest

More than 100 dancers from Brainerd, Baxter, Nisswa, Onamia, Staples and surrounding areas participated in the Showbiz Regional Talent Competition on April 26-30 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

The five-day event pitted Music General against 40 of the foremost dance studios from around the five-state region. The dancers are students at Music General Dance Studio, instructed by Sue Kuhn, in Brainerd.

Categories Music General dancers competed in include Tap, Jazz and Jazz Solo. In total, they received seven first-place trophies in Large Group Tap; three first-place trophies in Large Group Jazz; two second-place trophies in Large Group Jazz; two first-place trophies for Jazz Solos; and one second-place trophy in Jazz Solo.

Full studio results are as follows:

Tap Large Group, age 7, "Run Around Sue," first place.

Tap Large Group, age 8, "Shuffle Off to Buffalo," first place.

Tap Large Group, age 10, "We're in the Money," first place.

Tap Large Group, age 11, "Reet Petite," first place.

Tap Large Group, age 13, "Straight Up," first place.

Tap Large Group, age 14, "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree," first place, highest score.

Tap Large Group, age 16+, "Ding Dong Daddy," first place.

Jazz Large Group, age 10, "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead," first place.

Jazz Large Group, age 11, "Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair," first place.

Jazz Large Group, age 13, "Body Rock," second place.

Jazz Large Group, age 14, "Twisted," second place.

Jazz Large Group, age 16+, "Tainted Love," first place.

Jazz Solo, age 15, Erica Genereaux, first place.

Jazz Solo, age 16, Janessa Wentworth, first place.

Jazz Solo, age 17, Amanda Burggraff, second place.

Music General also participated April 8-9 at the Starlight Talent Competition at the University of Minnesota, Northrup Auditorium, receiving three gold medals and three silver medals. Results are as follows:

Tap Large Group, age 12-13, "Straight Up," Gold Medal.

Tap Large Group, age 14-15, "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree," Gold Medal, highest score.

Tap Large Group, age 16+, "Ding Dong Daddy," Gold Medal.

Jazz Large Group, age 12-13, "Body Rock," Silver Medal.

Jazz Large Group, age 14-15, "Twisted," Silver Medal.

Jazz Large Group, Age 16+, "Tainted Love," Silver Medal.

The next and final competition for Music General Dance Studio is the Starquest Talent Competition on May 12-14 at Wilkens Auditorium, River Center in St. Paul.

Dance students also will perform at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 9-10, at Tornstrom Auditorium in Brainerd at the 21st annual Music General Spring Dance Review.