Students from Andrea’s School of Dance recently competed in the Creation Dance Championships in Pittsburgh on Saturday, April 5.
Under the artistic direction of owner Andrea McGraw, the school was represented by 15 solo and group entries. The entire championship competition drew more than 120 competitive groups from throughout Pennsylvania and Ohio. Andrea’s School of Dance will be represented at national competitions in Ohio in July 5, 6 and 7.
“I’m proud and pleased,” said McGraw of how well her students performed at the competition. “It’s a wonderful experience for the kids to go and have to depend on each other to do so well.”
Among the many honors received at the competition, Andrea’s School of Dance received the Best Sportsmanship Award for exhibiting the most sportsman-like conduct of all schools represented at the championships.
“They made banners. They all had pom poms. One of the girls made a dance studio mascot. She got a bear and put a studio T-shirt, tu-tu, and a little tiara on it. They had a really good time,” said McGraw.
McGraw founded Andrea’s School of Dance in 1992 and has been teaching for 11 years. Enrollment for this year is approximately 175 students. Renee Brantlinger assists McGraw as the other dance instructor at the studio.
Located at 426 Main Street, Bellwood, Andrea’s School of Dance is currently accepting new students for the fall. Classes are available for ages four and up, and there are limited adult classes. For adults, there is tap and jazz. For the kids, there is ballet, tap, jazz, point, lyrical and modern. For more information, call 742-8211.
Future plans for the girls include a recital scheduled for May 31 at 7 p.m. at the Jaffa Mosque. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children under 12. Tickets can be purchased at the studio or at the door. The title of the dance recital is “Celebration of the Silver Screen.” The theme of the evening is songs from the movies.
Honored at the Creation Dance Champions were the following groups and individual dancers:
Jill Endress and Chelsea Lechner won second place and a special crowd pleaser award for duo/trio jazz, ages 15-16, dancing to Skater Boy; Tara Baughman, Kiera Clapper and Shaunea Glass won second place for duo/trio lyrical, ages 15-16, dancing to True Colors.
Janea Baughman, Lauren DelGrosso, Kristyn Ginter, Andrea Isola, Courtney Kensinger, Nicole Post, Chelsea Turner, Emily Wilson and Chelsea Zeak won first place for small group jazz, ages 11-12, dancing to Life is a Party; Brittany Harker, Tiffany Lantz, Erika Latchford, Jasey Frederick, Lindsay Johnson, Lindsey Rickards and Marissa Snyder won first place for small group jazz, ages 15-16, dancing to Men in Black.
Laura Ayers, Shaunea Glass, Katrina Holdren, Mary Imler, Haley Noel, Elizabeth Tepsic, Sheena Narehood, Deidre Wentzel and Katie Ray won first place, a special award for most original choreography and fifth place overall for small group tap, ages 15-16, dancing to Trashin’ the Camp.
Kristyn Ginter, Andrea Isola, Tiffanie Walk, Lindsay Johnson, Sheena Narehood and Deidre Wentzel won first place for small group lyrical, ages 13-14, dancing to Little Angel of Mine; Tara Baughman, Kiera Clapper, Jill Endress, Shaunea Glass, Katrina Holdren, Chelsea Lechner, Haley Noel, Jacob Librizzi, Sheena Narehood, Samantha Reynolds, Katie Ray, Elizabeth Tepsic, Brittany Umstead, Alicia Varsho and Deidre Wentzel won ultimate victory, 292.4 out of 300 points with one judge scoring 100 out of 100 points and second place overall of all large group jazz competition for large group jazz, ages 15-16, dancing to The Final Countdown.
Tara Baughman, Kiera Clapper, Jill Endress, Shaunea Glass, Katrina Holdren Mary Imler, Chelsea Lechner, Haley Noel, Sheena Narehood, Samantha Reynolds, Katie Ray, Keather Taylor, Alicia Varsho and Deidre Wentzel won first place for large group production lyrical, ages 15-16, dancing to I Sing the Body Electric.
Alicia Varsho won first place, solo, ages 15-16, jazz, dancing to What a Feeling; Katrina Holdren won second place, solo, ages 15-16, jazz, dancing to Watch Me Shine; Liam Flynn won second place and a special award, titled Broadway Bound, for tap, ages 15-16, dancing to I’ve Got You Under My Skin; Sheena Narehood won first place for open, ages 17-18, dancing to This is a Song; Deidre Wentzel won first place for lyrical, ages 15-16, dancing to Family Portrait and Haley Noel won second place for lyrical, ages 13-14, dancing to Your House.
