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14 dancers including one alternate, represented Madison county in various regional and national events. Pictured in the front row, from left to right, are Petite level dancers: Mya Mason, Summer McLeod and Layla Peavey. Pictured in the middle row, from left to right, are Jr. Team dancers: Melana Webb, Kaitlyn Hutchinson, Allie Wilkerson, Regan Crosby and Morgan Crosby. Pictured in the top row, from left to right, are Teen team dancers: Savanna Edwards, Caibre Johnson, Erin Jarvis, Mary Kate Brooks and Sr. team dancer: Brittany Edwards. Not pictured is alternate, Taylor Huggins.
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The dance competition team from Becky’s Dance Steps Studio (BDSS) competed at the regional level this past season at Fusion National Dance Competition, in Valdosta, on Feb. 20 and Feb. 21, and at in the Platinum National Dance Competition, in Jacksonville, on March 4 through March 6.
The 13 member team and one alternate, ranging in ages five through 17, carried on the winning tradition of the studio’s dance teams from previous years by bringing home Platinum and Gold awards for the 17 entries they prepared, which qualified them to attend the National Finals for both competitions.
The dancers chose to attend the National Finals for Platinum National Dance Competition in Panama City, from June 13 through June 18. There were 46 studios represented from across the U.S. They culminated their successful season by bringing home one Platinum Plus award, seven Platinum Awards, and nine Gold Awards, as well as several Judges’ Choice awards and placements in the Overall standings. The BDSS co-dancers were also honored to have two of the studio’s tap entries receive an invitation to dance in the Recreational Grand Championship Gala on Friday, June 17, which featured eight competitive numbers from all dance genres from the age group 11 and under and the age group 12 and over. The two dances were chosen from a field of 227 entries in their division.
Under the direction of studio owner Becky Robinson, Scott Benson and Danielle Leslein, the dancers had an inspiring and busy week of competition in Panama City. The regional and national events were organized by Ron and Terri Rogers, the owners of Platinum NDC, based in Jonesboro, Ga. Supported by a large group of family members and friends who traveled to Panama City, the dancers did an outstanding job representing Madison County in the national competition, which had 903 entries from all over the United States, following Platinum NDC’s 28 city tour held from Fall 2015 – Spring 2016. The dancers were judged by three professional dancers/choreographers using a point scoring system with criteria based upon technique, choreography, showmanship/presentation, overall impression and costume. The entry levels were Recreational, Intermediate and Elite.
Following months of fundraisers, many team rehearsals and numerous public performances, the 13 team members of the Becky’s Dance Steps Studio Competition Team attended Platinum National.
Dance Competition Finals
Petite Level Dancers: Mya Mason, Summer McLeod and Layla Peavey
Jr. Team Dancers: Morgan Crosby, Regan Crosby, Kaitlyn Hutchinson, Melana Webb and Allie Wilkerson
Teen Team Dancers: Mary Kate Brooks, Savanna Edwards, Erin Jarvis and Caibre Johnson
Sr. Team Dancer: Brittany Edwards
Alternate: Taylor Huggins
The 17 entries and their awards were:
Platinum Plus Award:
“Fabulous” – Petite – Solo - Musical Theater – Mya Mason (second place overall & Champion of Category)
Platinum Awards:
“Everybody Wants to Be a Cat” – Petite - Solo – Jazz – Layla Peavey; “Blackbird” – Jr. - Solo – Lyrical (ninth overall); “Immortal” – Teen – Solo - Lyrical – Savanna Edwards (sixth overall & Judges Choice Award); “Speaking French” – Jr. Duo – Musical Theater – Kaitlyn Hutchinson and Allie Wilkerson (10th overall); “Choo Choo Boogie” – Teen – Tap – Mary Kaye Brooks, Erin Jarvis and Caibre Johnson (second Overall & call back to perform in the Recreational Grand Championship Gala); “A Friend Like Me” – Sr. – Tap – Duo – Brittany Edwards and Savanna Edwards (first place overall, Champion of Category, and call back to perform in the Recreational Grand Championship Gala); “Zip, Gun, Bop” –Teen - Tap – Small Group – Mary Kaye Brooks, Brittany Edwards, Erin Jarvis and Caibre Johnson (seventh overall).
Gold Awards:
“Tutu Cute” – Petite – Solo – Tap – Summer McLeod; “Bad” – Jr. – Solo – Jazz – Melana Webb; “Hanging Tree” – Sr. -Solo – Contemporary – Brittany Edwards; “Countdown” – Sr. – Solo – Jazz – Erin Jarvis; “Dancing in the Sky” – Jr. – Duo – Lyrical – Kaitlyn Hutchinson and Allie Wilkerson; “Carousel” – Teen - Duo – Jazz – Regan Crosby and Erin Jarvis (Champion of Category); “Confident” – Teen – Trio – Jazz - Mary Kate Brooks, Erin Jarvis and Caibre Johnson; “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” – Jr – Small Group – Tap – Morgan Crosby, Regan Crosby, Kaitlyn Hutchinson, Melana Webb, Allie Wilkerson; “Let’s Dance” – Sr. – Duo – Jazz – Brittany Edwards and Savanna Edwards.
Team members Brittany Edwards and Savanna Edwards continued their competition season throughout the summer by attending Inspire National Dance Competition in Savannah, Ga. on July 13 through July 16. The sister duo, chosen as All Stars when they qualified at Inspire Regionals earlier in the year, attended special classes each day and learned choreography for the Gala Performance in addition to their busy competition schedule. They were also honored to be chosen to perform their tap dance “Friend Like Me” in the Crystal Showcase. They also won Sapphire Awards for their solos “Immortal” and “Hanging Tree” and their Duo/Trios “Let’s Dance” and “Rotten to the Core.”
They won the coveted Diamond Award for their tap solo “Friend Like Me” and were also honored to be chosen to perform that dance in the Crystal Showcase.
Jr. soloist, Regan Crosby, competed in Atlanta, Ga., on Tuesday, July 12 at the Platinum Ultimate Invitational Championship. Crosby received a Platinum Award and placed seventh overall in her division.
The team directors Becky Robinson, Scott Benson and Danielle Leslein would like to thank the community of Madison for their support of the 2015 – 2016 Becky’s Dance Steps Studio Company Dancers. It was an exciting and successful year for the dancers, their families and the faculty from the studio.
Photo Submitted
Due to their outstanding, award-winning performance, the dancers selected for the Grand Championship Recreational Gala at Platinum National Dance in Panama City are, pictured from left to right: Brittany Edwards, Savanna Edwards, Caibre Johnson, Teacher – Becky Robinson, Erin Jarvis and Mary Kate Brooks.