Danville Students Win Tap Dancing Gold Medal At World Championships

DANVILLE, CA — Two students from Monte Vista High School and San Ramon Valley High School won Gold Medals at the World Tap Dance Championships in Prague, Czech Republic.

Braelyn Schaffer and Presley Nava were two of only three dancers from Northern California chosen to compete by the United States Dance & Sports Federation and the International Dance Organization.

They competed against 1,700 other dancers from over 40 countries, according to the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. Their routine was set to the hip-hop song "Ratata," and featured complex turns and acrobatic moves that are highly difficult to execute in tap shoes. The girls also competed in a large group formation to the song "The Devil Went Down To Georgia," which placed sixth.

See their award-winning dance here.

“Winning the gold at Worlds was a dream come true,” said Braelyn, who has danced with Presley since she was six years old. “Standing on the podium together as the National Anthem played, representing the USA in the Parade of Nations- it was a fairy tale moment. We’re so grateful to our teachers and SRVUSD for supporting us on this journey.”

“Braelyn and Presley exemplify creativity, teamwork and dedication – core attributes of our Learner Profile,” SRVUSD Superintendent C.J. Commack said in a statement. “Their success on the world stage is a testament to their talent and hard work, and our community is incredibly proud to have them represent SRVUSD and the United States with such excellence.”

Braelyn and Presley were honored at an SRVUSD Board meeting.