The Dalles Dance Club Academy attended the biggest regional dance competition in the Pacific Northwest this past weekend for the three-day Onstage New York event May 4-6 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland and walked away with several awards for their solid all-around performances.
“Sometimes coming from The Dalles you feel like a small fish in a big pond competing against all the huge Portland studios,” Instructor Kristi Maley said. “But, we really held our own and then some and came out on top this year.”
Onstage New York brings together 50 studios around the northwest and more than 700 dances in the what is considered the ultimate talent search and competition.
The dancers are judged by Broadway professionals from New York in jazz, ballet, lyrical, musical theater, hip hop, contemporary, song and dance, acro and open categories.
The dancers are scored and can receive a bronze (which is the lowest, silver, high silver, gold, high gold, or platinum (which is the highest you can receive).
The Dance Club had its most successful competition ever, receiving the most platinum awards ever.
“I was really happy with all the performances and so excited at how well we placed this year,” Maley added. “It was a really rewarding year.”
In the mini division, receiving a platinum in tap and platinum in jazz, 12th highest scoring group, and a judge’s choice award were Sophia Bucher, Makenzie Barrett, Ella Anderson, Tygh Timinsky, Ava Malcolm, Jayden Hansen, Bridget Donnell, and Jocelyn Olivan.
Timinsky also received a platinum in her jazz solo and was a top-10 finisher out of all the solos.
In the mini division, receiving a high gold in tap and a high gold in jazz were Morgan Donivan, Abi Pope, Anabeth Frohm, Jessie Lamb, Kyla Grillone, Isabella Beitl, Lillyannah Alvarado and Olivia Prado.
In the mini division, receiving a high gold in tap and a high gold in jazz, and a judge’s choice award were Maycee Foote, London Moody, Allison Figueroa, Alyssa Nelson, Lucy Polehn, Madeleine Omeg and Uma Carosella.
Receiving a platinum on their musical theater duo were Foote and Moody, and both Donivan and Omeg received a platinum on their duo.
“I am extremely proud of my students for not only competing well, but for the professionalism they showed on stage,” Maley said.
In the junior division, receiving platinum in jazz, a high gold in tap and a judge’s choice award were Abbie Canchola, Allie Masterson, Paige Compton, Katelyn Vassar, Tora Jo Timinsky, Nellie Wilkinson, Hayley Peterson, Bella Perez, Ahnikah Rubio, Faith Gouge, Madison Stembridge, McKenna Strain and Laurel Kirby.
Perez received a gold for her jazz/acro solo and Tora Jo Timinsky received a platinum, a judge’s choice award and top-10 out of all the junior solos.
In the teen division, receiving a high gold in jazz, and judge’s choice award was the group of Meli Avila, Lola Nelson, Paige Bankhead, Lorelay Berry, Hannah Kortge, Jayden Szeremi, Arianna Lopez and Elizabeth Olivan.
Kortge and Avila received a platinum in their duo and a judge’s choice award, Olivan picked up a gold in her jazz solo and highest scoring jazz solo and Berry received a high gold in her lyrical solo.
In the senior division, Aidan Telles, Nathan Nanez, Evan Despain, Jordyn Hattenhauer, Jessika Nanez, Kendyl Kumm, Abby Mains, Gillian Wolf, Ella Morgan, Giselle Schwartz, City Mains and Sophia Pullen garnered a platinum in jazz, had the highest scoring line overall and also added the judge’s choreography award and a judge’s choice award.
Hattenhauer and Telles earned platinum, a judge’s choice award and overall high score in their duo, and the brother and sister act of Jessika and Nathan Nanez got a platinum in their duo.
In the teen division, the group taking home a platinum and the highest scoring tap dance overall were Jessika Nanez, Wolf, Nathan Nanez, Evan Despain, Hattenhauer, Abby Mains, City Mains, Meli Avila, Lola Nelson, Paige Bankhead, Lorelay Berry, Hannah Kortge, Jayden Szeremi, Arianna Lopez and Elizabeth Olivan.
Receiving the class act award and a $200 scholarship to nationals was the talented troupe of Aidan Telles, Nathan Nanez, Evan Despain, Jordyn Hattenhauer, Jessika Nanez, Kendyl Kumm, Abby Mains, Gillian Wolf, Ella Morgan, Giselle Schwartz, City Mains, Sophia Pullen, Meli Avila, Lola Nelson, Paige Bankhead, Lorelay Berry, Hannah Kortge, Jayden Szeremi, Arianna Lopez and Elizabeth Olivan.
“Winning the class act award was such a bonus,” Maley said. “This is presented to the studio that shows the most professionalism on and off stage.”
The club hosts its year-end recital at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 19 at The Dalles High School and admission is $5 cash per person.
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