Printer Friendly Version - The Dance Corner Lights Up the Floor with Accolades

Pictured from The Dance Corner are (back row) Haili Stevenson (of Killingworth), Catherine Florentine (Madison), Trinity Hughes (Killingworth), Samantha Dunsmore (Madison), Emma Rosenquist (Madison), Nicole Grief (Deep River), Jennifer Judge (Madison), Marie Emerson (Killingworth), Theresa Pasqualini (Killingworth), Elizabeth McCann (Madison), Treasa Plumley (Killingworth), Leianna Dolce (Haddam); (third row) Carrie Smith, director of The Dance Corner; Anna Dam (Deep River), Dakota Dione (Deep River), Thomas Emerson (Killingworth), Olivia Dunsmore (Madison), Kayla Pellegrini (Clinton), Cameryn Ludwin (Guilford), Mary Darin (Killingworth), Zoe Balkan (Madison), Grace Murphy (Killingworth), Heather Kenney (Essex), Nicole Peterson, assistant to the director/instructor at The Dance Corner; (second row)Margaret Singer (Haddam), Audrey Board (Deep River), Olivia Papa (Madison), Erin Lomonaco (Chester), Sarah Gaetano (Clinton), Hannah Leyhausen (Madison), Leah Walton (Killingworth), Gillian Miller (Killingworth); (first row) Abigail Marciniec (Haddam), Grace Pendleton (Clinton), Rachel Delvecchio (Killingworth), Hannah Schilling (Westbrook), Ava Frost (Deep River), Madison Moriarty (Higganum), and Sophie Winikur (Haddam).

Local dancers representing The Dance Corner of Killingworth participated in a number of regional dance competitions this spring. Competing against schools from across the Northeast, The Dance Corner took home a number of awards. Most notably were the team’s achievements at the Starpower Regional Talent Competition in Hartford. The Dance Corner Company competed in a field with over 600 entries and the Junior Jazz Company’s performance of Topsy Turvy, choreographed by Samantha Welch, was named regional grand champion. They received five stars and first overall in the All-Star Division for the age 9-11 group. Topsy Turvy was also awarded the Entertainment Award and received an invitation to World Dance Championship. Dancers in Topsy Turvy are Rachel Delvecchio, Olivia Dunsmore, Erin Lomonaco, Olivia Papa, and Grace Pendleton.

Along with being named a grand champion with her Topsy Turvy jazz group, Pendleton, of Clinton, also earned high marks for her jazz solo, Carefree, which was choreographed by Welch. She earned five stars and was awarded first overall in the age 12-14 All-Star Solo Division and won the Special Judges’ Award, Breath of Fresh Air.

The Dance Corner’s Mini Company dancers, the youngest competitors in the company, performed a jazz dance, Be Our Guest, that was choreographed by Welch at Starpower and earned 4 3/4 stars. They finished second overall in the Star Division for age 8-U small groups. Also at the Starpower Regionals, the Junior Tap Company dance, Hot Chocolate, received five stars, first place in its category, runner-up overall for the All-Star Division for age 12-14 small groups, and it earned The Dance Corner a second invitation to World Dance Championships.

At the subsequent Energy National Dance East Haven regional competition, The Dance Corner received the Outstanding Technique Award and the first place overall Senior Group Award for the tap dance, Take the A Train. It was choreographed by Allyson Coughlin and performed by the Senior Tap Company. The dancers were Anna Dam, Mary Darin, Dakota Dione, Leianna Dolce, Samantha Dunsmore, Marie Emerson, Catherine Florentine, Heather Kenney, Theresa Pasqualini, and Treasa Plumley. Also at the Energy National Dance Talent Competition, the Senior Jazz Company comprised of Darin, Dunsmore, Emerson, Trinity Hughes, and Kenney earned a platinum and first place awards in the Power Teen Small Group Division for their dance, Believin, which was choreographed by Jennifer Etter.

The Dance Corner’s Senior soloists also did very well at the Energy Regional Competition. Graduating high school senior Haili Stevenson of Killingworth received a Special Judges’ Award for Emotional Execution in her solo, Coming Home, that choreographed by Etter and earned eighth place overall.

Another Class of 2015 dancer, Catherine Florentine of Madison, earned sixth and seventh place, respectively, for her solos with a lyrical solo, Ordinary World, which was choreographed by Welch, and the other a Ballet Pointe solo titled, Rose Concerto, choreographed by Savanna Bodnar. Plumley received second overall and a Platinum Award, as well as the Outstanding Performance Award for her musical theater solo, My Own Little Corner, choreographed by Peterson. Dolce was the big winner in East Haven as she took home the Power Senior Solo Award for her tap dance, Sunny Side of the Street, that was choreographed by Coughlin.

Special congratulations goes to Dance Corner Class of 2014 alum, Brooke Cotter of Killingworth, who won the Miss Energy Title. Cotter was the highest scoring senior female soloist and was crowned Miss Energy for the second year in a row.

At the Step Up 2 Dance Regional Competition in Southbury, The Dance Corner Company was recognized by the judges with several special awards. The Precision and Performance Award was given to the entire team for the variety of styles exhibited, poised and polished performances, precision, energy, and age appropriate choreography. The large group jazz dance, I Want Candy, choreographed by Peterson, received a Platinum Award and placed first overall in the Classes Division. The Senior Lyrical Company dance, Vienna, also choreographed by Peterson, received first in its category.

Also at Step Up 2 Dance, the Senior Jazz Company, Go For It!, took third place in its category. The Junior Tap group, Whodunit?, was awarded second place for its performance. Senior Jazz Company, Black Cat, earned first in its category and fifth overall for its age division.

Dancers in The Dance Corner Company train and compete under the direction of Carrie Smith, as well as The Dance Corner instructors and choreographers, Savanna Bodnar, Coughlin, Etter, Alison Hammell, Peterson, and Welch.

“I am so impressed with the level of talent we see from all the dancers, not just ours, at these competitions. Our dancers really improved as artists and technicians this year and it showed on stage,” said Smith. “I have a very talented staff of instructors and choreographers who are dedicated to helping our kids become great performers. I think the results from this year’s competitions really show that. Competition requires dedication, hours of extra practice, and a commitment to excellence. I’m very proud of all the students for proving that hard work really does pay off.”