Dancers from five states attend Just For Kix convention

Dancers from a five-state area attended an intensive convention June 23-27 in Brainerd hosted by Just For Kix.

There were 83 dancers, who were exposed to a wide variety of instructors and dance styles.

Local teachers were Allison Potvin, Alexandra Clough, Adina Balenger, Cindy Clough, Kari Stengrim and Carlos Stroia. Other key instructors included Amber Rose Sutton of Madison, Wis., and Jessica Mahr of Apple Valley.

"These kids were so fortunate to have so many great instructors all in one setting," Cindy Clough, who directed the event, said in a news release. "Each instructor has a different way of explaining a particular skill which may connect with a dancer and help them improve."

Dancers performed a brief show for their parents at the conclusion of the convention.

Master instructors at the convention were Casper Smart, Karl Mundt, Kourtni Lind and Luke Olson-Elm.

Smart, of Los Angeles who'll film "Step Up 3," performed with the dancers. Smart was recently seen in "Dance Flicks" and in several music videos, including Eminem "We Made You." Smart is doing several JFK events this summer, including three upcoming camps in Brainerd.

Mundt has traveled throughout North America conducting workshops and master classes, including several in Minnesota. His work has won numerous state and national awards. He has choreographed several national championship winning routines for high school, collegiate, studio and All-Star teams throughout the country.

Lind, 18, is one of the top 20 dancers on Season 4 of FOX's reality competition series, "So You Think You Can Dance." Lind is a jazz/contemporary dancer from Forest Lake and she currently lives in Sherman Oaks, Calif. Lind began training in her mother's dance studio at age 3 and she graduated from high school at age 16, so she could begin her career.

Olson-Elm started dancing at age 5 following the footsteps of his older sister. Growing up in Plymouth he received his initial training at the Dance Shoppe. He will graduate this spring from the University of Minnesota with a double major in dance and studies in cinema and media culture. At college, he has performed works by Jose Limon, Anna Sokolow, Shapiro Smith Dance and Mathew Janczewski. Olson-Elm has lived in Los Angeles and New York City while working with Disney, ABC, Broadway Dance Center and the St. Joseph's Ballet. He also will choreograph and perform for the Minnesota Opera and perform with ARENA Dances in their upcoming spring season.