DANCE SHORTS
Music General dancers awarded in Las Vegas
Sixty-seven dancers and parents from Brainerd's Music General attended the Hall of Fame Nationals June 24-28 at Bally's Hotel in Las Vegas.
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The Hall of Fame All-Stars, dancers selected by judges at the regionals, performed in the opening number of the World Series Dance Championships. The dancers were Maddi Adams, Madi Landsburg, Giselle Tamasy, Marlee Landsburg, Rachelle Reed, Randie Swanson and Emma Palm.
Swanson was a runner-up in the Senior Solo Showdown and the tap trio of Matt Capelle, Gabe Dwyer and Alex Kuhn earned the top score in the Senior Duet/Trio Showdown.
Music General dancers who competed in June in Las Vegas included Rachelle Reed (front left), Kourtney Holloway, Alexie Larson, Becky Stanwood, Marlee Landsburg, Kelsey Terhaar, Giselle Tamasy, Karyn Pfeifer, Gabe Dwyer (back left), Matt Capelle, Alex Kuhn, Ashley Hillstrom, Kristin Goddard, Randie Swanson, Emma Palm, Jenny Johnson, Brynn Samp, Kalli Crawford, Courtney DeChaine and Sarah Brill.
The Small Tap Group performing to "You and I Both" received a first-place platinum award with a score of 294 out of 300, the highest score of the competition. The number also received the judges' Fabulous Feet tap award, a $250 prize and a spot in the World Series dance-off, where it placed second in Senior Groups and won $750.
The competition featured 31 studios from Texas, Florida, California, Michigan, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Canada. The competition had 718 acts with dancers ranging from age 8 to adult.
Dancers took master classes in tap, jazz, modern/lyrical and hip-hop with guest teachers Sonya Tayeh, Fred Odgaard, Jason Luks, Shayna Fink, Quinton Weathers and David J. Moore.
Music General results: (The scoring scale is based upon the total score of three judges. Platinum awards are 285-300 points, high gold awards are 278-284.9 and gold awards are 270-277.9.)
Groups:
Teen Large Group (Jillian Anderson, Kalli Crawford, Courtney DeChaine, Nikki DeChaine, Madisen Eades, Stephanie Groen, Sarah Johnson, Marlee Landsburg, Alexie Larson, Lauren Makey, Jordan Peterson, Karyn Pfeifer, Becky Stanwood, Giselle Tamasy, Kelsey Terhaar), "Bye Bye Blackbird" (jazz): High Gold Award.
Just For Kix dancers Stephanie Anderson (left), Mackenzie Davidge, Jazmine Ward and Madeline Ellingson received honors at a recent Just For Kix Youth Camp in Brainerd. Stephanie, Madeline and Mackenzie were the Mini Kix Small Group champions and Jazmine was the second runner-up in the Middle Kix Solo category. Also, Stephanie was the Solo champion and Mackenzie was the runner-up in the Mini Kix Solo division.
"Takin' It to the Streets" (tap): First Place Platinum Award, Fabulous Feet Tap Award, No. 3 in Top Five of the American League Teen Large Groups and Lines.
Teen Small Jazz Group (Kalli Crawford, Courtney DeChaine, Marlee Landsburg, Karyn Pfeifer, Giselle Tamasy), "Pleasantly Blue": High Gold Award, Showmanship Award.
Teen Small Tap Group (Kalli Crawford, Courtney DeChaine, Gabe Dwyer, Alexie Larson, Becky Stanwood, Giselle Tamasy, Kelsey Terhaar), "Lucas With the Lid Off": First Place Platinum Award.
Senior Large Group (Heather Beyer, Sarah Brill, Gabriel Dwyer, Kristin Goddard, Ashley Hillstrom, Kourtney Holloway, Abby Hradsky, Jennifer Johnson, Melissa Morey, Emma Palm, Laura Pfeifer, Jill Polansky, Rachelle Reed, Brynn Samp, Randie Swanson), "Feelin' Good" (jazz): High Gold Award.
"Hosanna" (tap): First Place Platinum Award, No. 2 in the Top Five of the American League Senior Large Groups and Lines.
Senior Small Tap Group (Kristin Goddard, Ashley Hillstrom, Kourtney Holloway, Emma Palm, Rachelle Reed, Brynn Samp, Randie Swanson), "I Could Have Danced All Night": First Place Platinum Award, No. 6 in the Top Nine.
Senior Small Jazz Group (Sarah Brill, Jenny Johnson, Emma Palm, Rachelle Reed, Brynn Samp and Randie Swanson), "Blues in the Night": Platinum Award.
Senior Small Tap Group (Matt Capelle, Gabe Dwyer, Ashley Hillstrom, Alex Kuhn, Emma Palm, Randie Swanson), "You and I Both": First Place Platinum, No. 1 in Top Nine Senior Small Groups, Fabulous Feet Tap Award, $250 prize, No. 2 in World Series Senior Groups, $750 award.
Matt Capelle (left), Alex Kuhn and Gabe Dwyer tap danced to "Nobody" during the Hall of Fame Nationals in June in Las Vegas. The trio earned the top score in the Senior Duet/Trio Showdown.
Small Hip-hop Group (Sarah Brill, Gabe Dwyer, Kristin Goddard, Kourtney Holloway, Jenny Johnson, Emma Palm, Rachelle Reed, Brynn Samp, Randie Swanson), "Touch": High Gold Award.
Tap Trio (Matt Capelle, Gabe Dwyer, Alex Kuhn), "Nobody": First Place Platinum, No. 1 in Top Five Senior Duets/Trios, Fabulous Feet Tap Award, $150 prize, Top Score winner in Solo/Duet/Trio Senior Showdown.
Solos:
Randie Swanson (tap): First Place Platinum, No. 4 in Top Five Senior Solos, runner-up in Senior Solo Showdown.
Emma Palm (musical theater): Gold.
Rachelle Reed (jazz): Gold.
Brainerd dancers fare well at local camp
About 250 dancers from around the state participated in a recent Just For Kix Youth Camp at Forestview Middle school in Baxter.
Brainerd dancers Stephanie Anderson, Mackenzie Davidge, Jazmine Ward and Madeline Ellingson received honors. Stephanie, Madeline and Mackenzie were the Mini Kix Small Group champions and Jazmine was the second runner-up in the Middle Kix Solo category. Also, Stephanie was the Solo champion and Mackenzie was the runner-up in the Mini Kix Solo division.
Instructors at the camp were New York's Adina Balinger, who dances at the Broadway dance center; Terry Lilly of Grambling State University; Lindsay Danielson, coach of the Eden Prairie High School Dance Team; Melissa Miller, a Brainerd Kixter coach; Kim Nichols of the St. Cloud State University dance team; Christie Cutter, the Eastview High School Dance Team captain; Krista Sorenson, a former Minnesota State University-Mankato dancer; Amber Rose Sutton, a former Madison State University dancer; and former Brainerd Kixters Ali Clough, Missy Eisland, Jessica Doud and Kaila Eberhardt. The camp director was Cindy Clough.
Overall results were as follows:
Wee Soloist: Amanda Fuechtman, first place.
Mini Soloist: Stephanie Anderson, first place; Mackenzie Davidge, second; Emily Brix, third.
Middle Soloist: Jenna Klein, first place; Grayce Kelm, second; Jasmine Ward, third.
Junior Soloist: Katie Noyed, first place; Jeanna Snively, second.
Mini Small Group: Mackenzie Davidge, Stephanie Anderson and Maddie Ellingson, first place; Kaitlin Janson and Kaitlynn Christen, second.
Middle Small Group: Ali Helle and Cassie Johnson, first place; Brianna Voss and Kaylie Pikus, second.
Junior Small Group: Brooke Katzmerak and Emma Stracke, first place; Katie Noyed and Jeanna Snively, second.
Brainerd's Just For Kix will wrap its summer season with an Intensive workshop Monday-Aug. 17 at the Brainerd studio. Seventy-five dancers plan to attend.