Guilford Girl Off To Croatia For IDO 2022 World Tap Dance Championship

GUILFORD, CT —Sunday, an Adams Middle schooler will be on a plane headed to Zagreb, Croatia.

Gianna DiMicco, 13, who has been a competitive dancer essentially her whole young life, is competing in the International Dance Association's 2022 World Tap Dance Championships.

According to her mother Marisa, Gianna auditioned to complete on the USA tap team in Reisa, Germany, but COVID-19 scuttled the competition for the past two years. Then, she said, "Reisa had to back out due to the energy shortage (because of) the war between Russia and Ukraine." So the championship event is now being held in Croatia. Gianna made the US team, one among 30 nations competing.

The IDO world championship event takes place Nov. 23 to Nov. 26.

Marisa DiMicco said that in addition to training for the competition, "each student has also had to continue to train at their individual studios as well as travel to practices, usually out of state."

"The level of dedication and commitment is intense and requires balance with home (dance) studios as well as academics," she said. "I am beyond proud of Gianna." Her mother said Gianna is a "straight A student" at Adams Middle School and is on the Student Council. She is also the current Couto pageant Miss Junior East Coast, her mother said, and she is a student teacher for two-year-old dancers at the Studio at Guilford Center. There, she is mentored by owner Emily Branigan, her mother said. And is coached by Jillian McNamara and former solo teacher Alesha Riles.

"And she has the support of the best dance dad, her stepfather Tony Pinto," her mother said.

When asked what quote best describes Gianna, her mother said it's her "future high school yearbook quote, 'Sorry I can’t, I have dance.'"