The local competitive dance team, Dance to the Beat, competed at another competition this past weekend. This competition was held in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, and the team took home many more wins and titles. 

Starting off with the Friday night competition, Kenzie Knight, Shawntel Dyne, Audrey Baker, Mackenzie Ricketts, and Evelyn Beckman competed in the teen solo division. To say they did great would be an understatement. Mackenzie placed 10th overall with a high gold and a special judges award titled “Simply Captivating.” Kenzie got 7th overall with high gold, Evelyn placed 6th overall and received high gold, Audrey got 3rd overall getting platinum, and only .07 points above Audrey was Shawntel placing 1st overall with a platinum as well. They all danced and performed beautifully, and the girls represented DTTB in the top teen soloists very well. 

Moving on to the Saturday performances, the junior soloists took the stage early this morning. Cadence Miller, Mikayla Jackson, Karleigh Moon, Taylor Sproveri, Tori Yoder, and Tenley Murphy were all so impressive with their amazing performances. Just like the teens, all of these junior division dancers placed in the top 10. Tori placed 9th overall and high gold, Taylor placed 8th overall with high gold, Tenley received 6th overall with her high gold, Karleigh got 5th overall with a high gold and a special judges award titled “Great Intensity,” Cadence received 3rd overall and a platinum, and Mikayla got 1st place overall with a platinum also! 

Saturday afternoon the junior large group and teen small groups began. The junior large group containing Tenley Murphy, Elise Boucher, Amarah Jordan, Tori Yoder, Karleigh Moon, Taylor Sproveri, Finley Mitchell, Avery McCray, Charlotte Goodwill, Camila Whiteley, Sarah Whiteley, and Layla Mosher placed 2nd overall with a high gold score, as well as receiving a special judges award titled “All The Right Moves.” This routine also got a golden ticket to the World Dance Championship. Now for the teen small groups, Halle Beach, Mikayla Jackson, Shawntel Dyne, Cadence Miller, Mackenzie Ricketts, and Evelyn Beckman competed in two dances in this division. Their lyrical dance placed 3rd overall with a platinum, and their jazz dance got 1st place overall with a platinum, a golden ticket invitation, and also got the title of “Regional Champions” in their level. And the newest members of the competition team, Monique Johnson, Lily Amy, Rylyn Gurdak, Madison Damcott, and Olivia Sheldon also competed in this level and they took home 5th overall. These new dancers have worked just as hard as the rest of the team, and should be very proud of themselves. These dancers work perfectly together and always look great on stage. 

Starting bright and early Sunday morning the seniors took the stage. Competing in a higher level than anyone at the studio, this reporter, Audrey Baker, Kenzie Knight, Willow Bowen, Jonas Anthony, and Izzy Kellogg performed two small group dances in this division. Arguably, the toughest division of the weekend. Their jazz dance placed 1st overall with a platinum, and their lyrical dance not only received a special judges award titled “Amazing Visuals,” as well as scoring high enough that this routine got moved up to an even higher level and placed 6th overall in that more advanced level. This dance also got a golden ticket invitation. Willow Bowen and Jonas Anthony also competed their solos in this division. Willow Bowen received 8th place overall with a platinum in her level, as well as the title of Miss Premiere Nexstar. Jonas Anthony also did a perfect job: he got a platinum, and scored high enough to be moved up to the more advanced level. Jonas won the title of Mr. Premiere Nexstar just like he did last year, and at last season’s nationals.

Sunday afternoon, the studios two lyrical large groups, and one hip-hop large group competed against each other. Placing 1st overall was this reporter, Audrey Baker, Kenzie Knight, Willow Bowen, Jonas Anthony, Izzy Kellogg, Halle Beach, Mikayla Jackson, Shawntel Dyne, Cadence Miller, Mackenzie Ricketts, and Evelyn Beckman. Coming in 2nd place overall was a lyrical piece danced by Olivia Sheldon, Tenley Murphy, Elise Boucher, Amarah Jordan, Tori Yoder, Karleigh Moon, Taylor Sproveri, Finley Mitchell, Avery McCray, Charlotte Goodwill, Camila Whiteley, Sarah Whiteley, and Layla Mosher. This routine also was selected to represent Nexstar competition in Cleveland, they were nominated to win a people’s choice award. Their dance would be uploaded online and can get voted on to win. Here’s the link, vote “Song Of The Sea ” for people’s choice! Only three out of the hundreds of dances this weekend were nominated, so this is a huge honor.

Finally, placing 3rd overall was a hip-hop large group containing this reporter, Audrey Baker, Kenzie Knight, Willow Bowen, Jonas Anthony, Izzy Kellogg, Mikayla Jackson, Shawntel Dyne, Cadence Miller, Mackenzie Ricketts, and Evelyn Beckman. The cutest little junior dancers, Elise Boucher, Camilla Whitely, and Tenley Murphy competed in an adorable Power Puff Girls trio. Another trio was done by Sarah Whitely, Layla Mosher, and Charlotte Goodwill. Both trios blew the crowd away with their great moves and perfect performances. Receiving 5th place overall was Sarah, Layla, and Charlotte, and getting 2nd place overall was Camilla, Elise and Tenley.

Dancing in the same session were Izzy Kellogg and Halle Beach with their senior novice solos. Halle placed 10th with a high gold, and Izzy placed 8th with a high gold too. Lastly, Dance to the Beat won the “Star Studio” award, out of all the studios at the competition. This means they are a perfectly rounded studio, having great sportsmanship, manners, attitude, behavior, and dances.

This finished off the great weekend, and this Friday, April 29, the Dance to the Beat competition team is back and competing again in Warren, Ohio!