Premiere Dance Hillsborough Dancers Continue Winning Streak With National Grand Championship

By Maryann Comiskey

Premiere Dance Hillsborough’s “Dynamics” company dancers continued their winning streak from Regionals at the Starbound National Talent Competition in Atlantic City, NJ last week.

With over 1500 entries it was the largest nationals in Starbound’s 23 year history! The Dynamics came home with a National Grand Championship victory with their Lyrical Teen Group “Superstar” choreographed by one of Premiere’s many highly acclaimed instructors, Lisa Burton. This group also claimed the highest scoring routine of all the Teen Large Groups during the week.

Dancers include:

• Alyssa Bianco
  
• Ashley Eck
  
• Catherine Flynn
  
• Morgan Krempasky
  
• Kristi Liivak
  
• Nicolette Moleski
  
• Emily Pettech
  
• Demi Rooyaakers
  
• Dakota Seidel
  
• Rachel Simroth
  
• Jenna Thornton
  
• Kara Thornton
  
• Jessica Wolff
  

Additionally, the Lyrical Specialty Group “Angels” choreographed by Dynamics Company Director Michelle Cunningham took 1st overall of all the Jr. small and large groups with the highest score and advanced to the finals where they placed 2nd against 12 other high scoring groups.

Dancers include:

• Mackenzie Brownlie
• Maddi Capuzzi
• Flynn, Krempasky
  
• Kristi Liivak
  
• Nicolette Moleski
• Kara Thornton
  
• Dhani Skole
  
• Lindsey Skole
  

Both of these groups had the privilege of performing their winning routines at the “Winner’s Banquet” on Friday July 17th in front of several of the other studio directors and the entire Starbound staff. Burton & Cunningham were thrilled to be able to showcase their winning choreography.

Eric McCotter’s Contemporary Jr. Group “Porcelain Doll” and Lisa Burton’s Lyrical Sr. Group “Love That Went Away” also had the honor of being chosen to re-compete at the finals and placed well amongst some talented and challenging routines. “Love That Went Away” included HHS seniors Mikayla Ahart, Alyssa Bovitz, Alex Licari, Anna Licari and Nicole Orzel who were excited to get to perform one last time.

Cunningham said, “This was by far the most successful, rewarding nationals we’ve attended in recent years. To compete against the east coast’s most prestigious studios, even Canadian studios, and come out on top it shows the level of technique, talent and commitment PDH (Premiere Dance Hillsborough) has to quality dance education.”

The Dynamics Company presented 77 routines with more than 75 percent of the routines placing in the highest level award they could receive, the Elite Gold. Company dancers received special awards and Top 10 placements in every category. The youngest Dynamics group “Pretty Ones” choreographed by Allie Nagy received the 2nd place in overall petite group during the week.

Several PDH dancers were also honored by being selected to perform in the opening number routine before the finals. They were each granted this honor by finishing as one of the Top 10 soloists at the recent regional competition and had to learn new choreography in just 6 short hours during last week’s competition.

The Dynamics Company came home with over $1,000 in prizes for their wins and have been recognized nationally as one of the Top 10 studios in the USA. They will continue to train hard in the summer months and get ready for the new season which begins on September 8th, 2015. Prospective students looking to be part of the award-winning Company should contact Michelle Cunningham at mc.pdhdynamics@gmail.com for audition information.

Summer dance camps and intensives are underway but it is not too late to be considered for a position with the National Champion Dynamics Dance Company at Premiere Dance Hillsborough!