Dance Corner members compete

KILLINGWORTH — Local dancers representing The Dance Corner of Killingworth competed this spring in a number of regional dance competitions. Competing against schools from across the northeast, The Dance Corner took home a number of awards this season.

Most notably are the team’s achievements at the Starpower Regional Talent Competition in Hartford, CT April 28-29. The Dance Corner Company competed with over 700 entries, including the Teen Tap Company’s performance of “Another One Bites the Dust”, choreographed by Brooke Cotter (Killingworth) a Dance Corner graduate and now instructor/choreographer was named Regional Champions. “Another One Bites the Dust” received 5 Stars and 3rd place Overall Intermediate Teen Small Group. Most notably, the group received a “Golden Ticket” invitation to World Dance Championship at the Meadowlands this summer. This was the second year in a row this team earned a bid to the World Dance Championships.

The Dance Corner’s Senior Lyrical company also received a “Golden Ticket” to attend the World Dance Championships. “One More Light” choreographed by Dance Corner instructor, Savanna Bodnar earned 5 stars and was named the 1st place Overall Intermediate Senior large group. Savanna Bodnar received the Choreography award for her work on this routine and the group was also named the Star Dance Alliance regional Intermediate Senior Champions. The Dance Corner’s Senior Lyrical company also received a bid to the World Dance Championships in 2017.

Studio Director Carrie Smith said, “To be selected out of the extraordinary pool of talent we saw at Starpower for the World Dance Championships is amazing. These dancers and their exceptional teachers worked long and hard this year to make these routines extraordinary, and I am so pleased that the judges recognized the hard work and talent in these dancers and their choreographer.”

Dancers in “Another One Bites the Dust” are Audrey Board (Deep River), Ava Frost (Deep River), Sarah Gaetano (Clinton), Abigail Marciniec (Haddam), Gillian Miller (Killingworth), Alexandra Shea (Ivoryton), Hannah Schilling (Westbrook), and Sophie Winikur (Haddam).

Dancers in “One More Light” are Mary Darin (Killingworth), Rachel DelVecchio (Killingworth), Olivia Dunsmore (Madison), Samantha Dunsmore (Madison), Nicole Grief (Deep River), Heather Kenney (Essex), Theresa Pasqualini (Killingworth), Grace Pendleton (Clinton), Sela Rathe (Madison), Hannah Schilling (Westbrook).

Soloist, Grace Pendleton of Clinton had an extremely successful performance at the Starpower regional competition. Her lyrical solo, “Somebody’s Someone”, choreographed by Dance Corner instructor Samantha Hermann earned 5 stars, 1st place in its category and 2nd place Overall Intermediate Teen Solo. Pendleton was also awarded an invitation to the Power Pak elite intensive.

These are only a few of the awards The Dance Corner received this season. Dancers in The Dance Corner Company train and compete under the direction of Carrie Smith as well as The Dance Corner instructors/ choreographers Savanna Bodnar, Brooke Cotter, Samantha Hermann, and Nicole Peterson.

The Dance Corner welcomes students of any age or level to take a free trial dance class. The studio is currently accepting Summer class and camp registrations and Fall class registrations. It is never too late to register for class. To register or find out more about our dance classes visit TheDanceCorner.com.

The Dance Corner has been providing students from Killingworth, Madison, Clinton, Deep River, Chester, Essex, Ivoryton, Centerbrook, Haddam, Higganum, Westbrook, Guilford and East Haddam with quality dance training for over 20 years.