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08/11/2018 12:00 AMStudents from the Astra Studio of Dance and Performing Arts were thrilled to participate in the Starbound 25th Anniversary National Competition that was held at Foxwoods from June 30 through July 4. Astra’s students competed alongside 62 studios from the East Coast, including major studios from across New England, the metro New York area, New Jersey, and as far away as Maryland. Many of the studios at the competition have been featured on the Lifetime network’s reality series, Dance Moms.
Even with half of Astra’s students new to competition this season, several of its teams secured top marks against stiff competition. Elleyana Barberi of Old Saybrook and Sadie Heiser of Chester won a national championship for their performance of Wreckin’ the House in the Petite Intermediate Duo/Trio Division. In total, Astra Studio students earned 15 high gold trophies, as well as an elite high gold, which is Starbound’s top adjudicated award.
Junior company member Charlee Brockett from Ivoryton earned second place overall in the Junior Competitive Soloist Division for her performance of Mad Hatter, in addition to being selected to perform in the Starbound competition’s opening number with 30 other students from the East Coast. The opening routine was choreographed by Broadway star, Rachelle Rak, and famed dance shoe designer, Phil LaDuca. Brockett’s acrobatics training helped her earn a featured section during the close of the routine.
Elsewhere at the competition, the Astra Senior company of Callie Andrews (Clinton), Emma Brockett (Ivoryton), Amanda Pernal (Old Saybrook), Jillian Pernal (Old Saybrook), and graduating senior Juliette Linares (Chester) performed a jazz routine called Fun House and a contemporary routine called Hazy Shade of Winter, earning high gold scores for both.
The Junior company of Charlee Brockett (Ivoryton), Emma Golembeski (Gales Ferry), Vivi Hesier (Chester), Samantha Sharpe (Westbrook), and Mackenzie True (Westbrook) earned high golds for a jazz routine called Trouble and a contemporary routine called Fear of the Water.
The Tap company, which included members of the Senior and Junior companies, performed Coal Mine and scored a high gold.
The Mini Company of Barbieri, Julia DeSousa (Westbrook), Heiser, and Isadora Souza (Westbrook) performed a jazz routine, Bathing Beauties, and a ballet number called Lavender’s Blue. Each routine scored a high gold for Astra.
The Teen lyrical duo routine of Somewhere Only We Know was performed by Sharpe and True earned a high gold, as did petite acro duo routine of Wreckin’ the House by Barbieri and Heiser, who also won a national championship with their performance.
Soloist performances included Andrews’s tap routine, Lone Digger, which earned high gold; and Charlee Brockett’s open performance of Mad Hatter that earned an elite high gold. Emma Brockett earned high gold for her solo lyrical routine, Daughter of the Moon, as did Golembeski for her musical theatre solo performance of Ring Them Bells. Amanda Pernal’s solo lyrical performance of Antidote, Jillian Pernal’s solo open routine of The Siren, and Linares’s solo jazz routine, La Vida Es Un Carnaval, all earned high gold on behalf of Astra.
Astra Studio, under the direction of Brittany Wigglesworth, is located at 210 Main Street in Old Saybrook, between AAA and Fantasia Consignments. For more info about upcoming recreational or competitive classes, contact Astra Studio at 860-304-4314 or info@astrastudioct.com.