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07/29/2018 12:00 AMThe Westbrook Dance Academy (WDA) saw several of its competition teams compete in the Starpower Talent Nationals that were held at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville from June 25 to 29. Several of the WDA’s teams earned the designation of being crowned national champions with their performances at the meet.
In a competition that featured more than 40 studios and more than 1,400 entries—including some divisions with more than 60 entries—the WDA’s teams performed very well at the Starpower Talent Nationals. Additionally, two of the WDA’s performances qualified for the Battle of the Stars with one team winning the Outstanding Performance Award. The WDA’s performance at the Starpower Talent Nationals marked the conclusion of another successful season for the its competition teams.
In the 15-to-19 Duo/Trio Division, the tandem of Miles Waterbury and Mara Kelley scored five stars and won the national championship with their performance of Moses Supposes. Mara Kelley is from Old Saybrook, while Miles Waterbury hails from Clinton.
The WDA Senior Competition team’s musical theater performance of Avenue Q scored five stars and placed fifth in the 15-to-19 Small Group Division. The team was one of only six squads to qualify for the 12-and-Over Small Group Battle of the Stars, where the routine earned the 12-and-Over Outstanding Performance Award.
The Senior team’s lyrical performance of Rage on Rage scored five stars and finished sixth, while its open routine, The Coven, scored 4 ¾ stars. The Senior Competition team includes Courtney Briggs and Katherine Izadi from Old Saybrook, along with Kelly and Waterbury.
The Large Group Tap team scored five stars for its rendition of School of Rock, placed eighth in the 12-to-14 Small Group division, and was one of only six teams to qualify for the 12-and-Over Large Group Battle of the Stars. WDA’s Large Group Tap team members included Caroline Bowe and Sylvia Sonenstein from Madison, Brooke Dellarocco from Chester, Madison Grady, Kaylene Koelle, Gabriella Navarra, Claire Pease, and Waterbury of Clinton; Briggs, Alixandria Giannini, Izadi, Kelley, and Megan Murphy of Old Saybrook; and Zoie Murphy and Sophia Rutkis of Westbrook. Dellarocco also scored five stars and won the national championship in the 12-and-Over Vocal division for her rendition of Defying Gravity.
The Mini team scored five stars for its performance of Lemonade and placed second in the 8-and-Under Novice Small Group Division. The members of WDA’s Mini team were Alexa Cardello, Kylee Pascale, and Sofia Taylor of Old Saybrook; Briella Dean from East Haddam, Sophie Furcolo and Mia Stowik from Westbrook, and Julianna Robinson of Essex.
The Teen Competition team scored five stars for its performance of To Build a Home and placed ninth in the 12-to-14 Small Group Division. One of the team’s other performances, Bend and Snap, scored 4 ¾ stars and earned the Rhythmtastic Special Award. WDA’s Teen Competition team members are Dellarocco, Kelley, Koelle, Megan Murphy, and Pease.
WDA’s 12-to-14 trio of Dellarocco, Megan Murphy, and Pease performed Up the Lazy River and scored five stars to place fifth in the 12-to-14 Duo/Trio Division.
As for the Future Stars team, its performance of Follow the Leader scored 4 ¾ stars and earned second place in the 8-and-Under Novice Duo/Trio division. WDA’s trio included Audrey Bragg of Madison, as well as Layla Dwyer and Aubrey Meyer from Clinton.
The Teen Intermediate Competition team’s dances—Coffee Break, In This Shirt, and Body Gold—all scored 4 ¾ stars with Coffee Break finishing ninth in the 15-19 Small Group division and In This Shirt coming in 10th. Teen Intermediate Competition team members featured Cori Hofler, Zoie Murphy, and Ashley Roberts of Westbrook, along with Bowe and Giannini.
The Junior Competition team scored 4 ¾ stars for Walk Like an Egyptian, Goodbye Neverland, and Daddy. WDA’s Junior Competition team consisted of Grady, Navarra, Rutkis, and Sonenstein.
The Petite Competition team scored 4 ¾ stars with its jazz dance, Clap Snap, placing sixth in the 9-to-11 Novice Small Group Division. WDA’s Petite Competition team included Katherine Barrera, Olivia Hartmann, and Isabella Johnson of Clinton; Jaidyn Cote, Calla Gilson, and Tess Santarsiero from Old Saybrook; and Kylie Sevigny from Old Lyme.
The Hip Hop Competition team scored 4 ¾ stars for Collapse. WDA’s Hip Hop Competition team members included Pease and Yashveen Rai of Clinton, Giannini and Karla Matute from Old Saybrook, plus Bowe and Zoie Murphy.
In the 15-to-19 Solo Division, Waterbury’s I Won’t Dance, Kelley’s Waterfalls and Strange Birds, Izadi’s Youth, Briggs’s Old Days, Roberts’s Pompeii, Giannini’s Check, and Bowe’s I’m Yours and Happy each scored 4 ¾ stars.
In the 12-to-14 Solo Division, Sonenstein earned five stars with her musical theater solo of 14-G, while Grady’s One Jump Ahead, Megan Murphy’s Your Song, and Dellarocco’s That’s Life, all scored 4 ¾ stars. Dellarocco was also awarded the Fabulous Smile Special Award.
In the 9-to-11 Solo Division, Navarra scored 4 ¾ stars for her open solo, Incantation.
In the 9-to-11 Novice Solo Division, Cote scored 4 ¾ stars for her jazz solo, Naughty, and also won the Broadway Bound Special Award. Meanwhile, Gilson’s Sing, Barrera’s BEAT, and Sevigny’s Something New also scored 4 ¾ stars.
In the 8-and-Under Novice Solo Division, Breilla Dean scored 4 ¾ stars for her Irish Step solo, Nancy Mulligan.
The WDA offers programs for those aged two to adult at the beginner, advanced, recreational, and competition levels. For more info on WDA or to register for fall classes, contact 860-664-4308 or westbrookdanceac@aol.com, or visit www.westbrookdanceacademy.com.