LANCASTER -- The Blair Dance Company from the Blair Dance Academy, Altoona, traveled to its first regional competition March 6-8.
The dancers attended Nexstaar National Talent Competition, where they brought home several top awards including seven platinum, eight overall high Score first-place awards, 21 high gold Medals, four gold Medals, 30 Divisional first-place Trophies, two Performance awards, two costume awards, five Photogenic placements, and two Special awards. The entire Blair Dance Company won the Backstage Performance Award for their outstanding support of the all the dancers at the competition. There were 18 dance companies from across the state competing at this three day competition and over 450 dances.
The Company's Teen Contemporary Dance, "American Pie", won a platinum Medal and a first-place divisional trophy. This dance won the high Score Award for the 12 and over groups' age category.
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Courtesy photo
Blair Dance Company's platinum award winners are (from left): first row -- Ally Sheedy, Sarah Donley, Jenna Cheslock, Myranda Oswalt, Mackenzie Bracken, Shaelyn Rickens and Samantha Parnell; second row -- Lindsay Treese, Rylee Adams, Sara Hatch, Kaitlyn Zelnosky, Nicole Panek and Lauren Donley; third row -- Amy Yatta, Anna Bistline, Andrea Fochler, Caitlin Berkheimer, Katie Duffy, Joscelyn Miller and Peyton Sanders; fourth row -- Paige Reilly, Hailey Sanders, Heidi Butterbaugh and Allison Boslet; fifth row -- Amber Bollinger, Rachel O'Rorke, Brianna Johnson, Danelle Weakland, Lindsay Parnell and Devin Weakland.
Their Teen Hip Hop Group "Fuego" received a platinum Medal and a first-place divisional trophy. It also placed 2nd overall in the 12 and over high score placements.
"M To The J" their Pre-Teen Production received a platinum Medal and a first-place divisional trophy. This dance placed 3rd overall for high score and was awarded the Performance Award for the 12 and over age division.
The company's Junior Acro Dance "Once Upon A Time" was awarded a high gold Medal and a 1st place divisional trophy. This dance won the high Score Award for the 11 and Under Groups Age Category.
Their Junior Musical Theater Group, "The Kite" won a high gold Medal and a divisional 1st place trophy. It also placed 2nd overall in the 11 and under groups and won the 11 and Under Performance Award.
Their Teen Modern Dance "Sunscreen" was awarded a high gold Medal, a 1st place divisional trophy, and placed 4th overall in the 12 and over groups.
The Company's Teen Jazz Dance, "Hernando's Hideaway", was awarded a high gold Medal and a first-place divisional trophy. This dance was also awarded a judges special award for "Sassy Style" for their excellent execution of the dance
Their Teen Tap Group "Come Fly With Me" received a high gold Medal and a first-place divisional trophy.
"Little Shop of Horror's" the Company's Senior Musical Theater Dance received a high gold medal and a divisional 1st place trophy.
Their Small Fry Ballet Group, "Dancing Circus Clowns", won a gold medal and a first-place divisional trophy. It also was awarded a third-place group costume award for 11 and under groups.
"Darshan" a Junior Acro Trio performed by Rylee Adams, Sarah Donley, and Hailey Sanders was awarded a platinum Medal, a divisional 1st place trophy, the overall high Score Award for 9-11 duet/trios, and a special award "Awesome Acrobats".
Danelle Weakland and Devin Weakland won a high gold Medal and a divisional 1st place trophy for their duet "Gotta Get Through This". They also won the high Score Award for the 12 and over duet/trios.
Mackenzie Bracken, Brianna, Johnson, and Samantha Parnell won a high gold Medal, a 1st place divisional trophy, and was awarded 2nd place overall 9-11 for their Junior Tap Trio "Hip To Be Square".
"Ruby Blue" a Senior Jazz Trio performed by Lindsay Parnell, Danelle Weakland, and Devin Weakland won a high gold Medal, a 1st place division trophy and placed 2nd overall in the 12 and over duet/trios.
"Raggedy Ann" a Small Fry Lyrical Trio performed by Jenna Cheslock, Myranda Oswalt, and Amy Yatta received a high gold Medal, a 1st place division trophy and placed 2nd overall in the eight and under age category.
Katie Duffy and Sara Hatch won a high gold Medal, 1st place divisional trophy and placed 3rd overall in the 12 and over duets/trios for their duet "Psychobabble".
"Bangkok" a Teen Acro Duet performed by Caitlin Berkheimer and Ally Sheedy won a high gold Medal, a 1st place divisional trophy and placed 4th overall in the 12 and over duet/trios.
Anna Bistline, Andrea Fochler, and Nicole Panek performed their Young Senior Lyrical Trio "Stand By Me" and won a high gold Medal, a 1st place divisional trophy, and placed 5th overall in the 12 and over duet/trios.
Amber Bollinger and Joscelyn Miller received a high gold Medal and 1st place trophy divisional trophy for their Young Senior Hip Hop Duet "Shorty Get Loose".
Amber Bollinger and Lauren Donley received a gold Medal and a 1st place divisional trophy for their Young Senior Tap Duet "William Tell".
Soloist Rylee Adams performed her Pre-Teen Acro Solo to "Dark Beat" and was awarded a platinum Medal, 1st place divisional trophy and was the overall high Score Winner for the 9-11 soloists.
Soloist Nicole Panek performed her Senior Open Solo to "Music Box Dancer" and was awarded a platinum Medal, 1st place divisional trophy and was the overall high Score Winner for the 15-17 soloists.
Soloist Sara Hatch performed her Senior Lyrical Solo to "Sorry" and was awarded a platinum Medal, 1st place divisional trophy placed 2nd overall for the 15-17 soloists
Soloist Ally Sheedy performed her Teen Open Solo to "Night Of The Dancing Flame" and was awarded a high gold Medal, a 1st place divisional trophy and was the overall high Score Winner of the 12-14 soloists.
Soloist Caitlin Berkheimer performed her Pre-Teen Open Solo "Blah Blah Blah Cha Cha Cha" and was awarded a high gold Medal, a 1st place divisional trophy, and placed 2nd overall in the 12-14 soloists category. She also won a 2nd place award in the 12 and over Solo costume category.
Soloists Hailey Sanders performed her Junior Character Solo "I Wanna Be A Rockette" and won a high gold Medal, a 1st place divisional trophy, and placed 3rd overall in the 9-11 soloists category.
Soloist Lauren Donley performed her Teen Tap Solo "Stomp To My Beat" and won a high gold Medal, a 1st place divisional trophy and placed 3rd overall in the 12-14 soloists category.
Soloist Devin Weakland performed two solos. Her Senior Lyrical Solo "Secret" received a high gold medal and placed 4th overall for the 15-17 soloists. Her Contemporary Solo "Falling" also won a high gold Medal and a 1st place divisional trophy.
Soloists Katie Duffy performed her Senior Modern Solo "Speeding Cars" and was awarded a high gold Medal, a 1st place divisional trophy, and placed 7th overall in the 15-17 soloists category.
Soloists Sarah Donley performed her Pre-Teen Tap Solo "Nike Basketball Beat" and won a gold Medal, a 1st place divisional trophy, and placed 8th overall in the 9-11 soloist category.
Soloist Lindsay Parnell performed her Teen Contemporary Solo "Gravel" and received a gold meal and placed 9th overall in the 12-14 solo age category.
This competition also held a photogenic competition where five BDC dancers took home awards. Lindsay Parnell won the 12 and Over photogenic competition. Lindsay Treese came in 2nd place for the 12 and Over photogenic competition. Devin Weakland placed 3rd in the 12 and Over photogenic competition. Samantha Parnell placed 2nd in the 11 and Under photogenic competition. Amy Yatta placed 3rd in the 11 and Under photogenic competition.
The Blair Dance Company is the not for profit competitive dance troupe from the Blair Dance Academy. The members are chosen yearly through an extensive audition and interview process which will take place on Saturday, June 6th. They are under the artistic direction of Rebecca Langguth. Raina Salmen, Jay Gamlin, Shanna Vanderwerker, and Heather Olszewski are also choreographers for this years' group. For more information on the Blair Dance Company please contact the Blair Dance Academy at 2733 6th Avenue, Altoona, PA 16602, or by calling (814) 943-7174 or visit www.blairdanceacademy.com.
