Teen takes 1st place at national dancing contest

CLINTON — A 15-year-old local dancer earned top honors for her interpretation of an “emotional routine” that deals with drug abuse, suicide and homelessness.

Grace Pendleton, a student at The Dance Corner of Killingworth, was named Starpower 2018 intermediate senior champion at the Starpower National Championships June 27 at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, according to a news release.

Grace received five stars, first place in the lyrical category and first place overall for her solo lyrical performance, “Somebody’s Someone.” The routine, was choreographed by Dance Corner instructor Samantha Welch Hermann.

“When I first heard this song, I immediately felt connected to it. The message was so powerful and I knew it was something that needed to be heard,” she said.

“Through my dance, ‘Somebody’s Someone,’ I hoped to tell the message that, no matter what, for those going through one of these things, there is always someone there for you,” she said in a prepared statement.

Grace and her teammate Hannah Schilling of Westbrook performed with the Starpower Dance Force in the opening number of their Battle of the Stars Dance Off to conclude the five-day-long national talent competition.

Grace will start her sophomore year at The Morgan School in the fall and has been performing and studying dance for 12 years at The Dance Corner. In addition to lyrical dance, she also studies ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary and acrobatics. She plans to pursue a career as a special education and dance teacher.

The Dance Corner welcomes students of any age or level to take a free trial dance class. The studio is accepting new students into its 2018-19 fall-spring session, as well as offering free dance days Aug. 21 to 23.

To register, visit TheDanceCorner.com