Westbrook Dance Academy National Champions

The Westbrook Dance Academy Competition Teams recently competed in the Imagine Dance Challenge Nationals at the Hershey Convention Center in Hershey, PA on July 15-19, and returned as National Champions. In a competition with 32 studios representing the South, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, and New England, and 1200 entries - with some divisions having over 70 entries - the teams came home with two National Championships, 12 dances placing in the top 10, were one of eight out of 32 to qualify for the No Limits Challenge, six judges special awards, and the 11 and Under Entertainment Award.

Mara Kelley scored 5 stars and won the National Championship in the 15-19 Solo Division with her tap solo “Chasing Cars.” Mara Kelley is from Old Saybrook. Kaylene Koelle of Clinton was Runner-Up and also scored 5 stars with her musical theater solo “Model Behavior.” This was out of over 30 soloists in the division.

The Senior Competition Team scored 5 stars for their musical theater “The Addams Family,” placed second in the 15-19 Small Group Division, and was one of only eight out of 32 to qualify for the 12 and Up Small Group No Limits Challenge. The Senior Team lyrical “In The Air Tonight” placed third and their open routine “Survivor,” placed fourth. Senior Competition Team members Mara Kelley, Megan Murphy, and Alixandria Giannini are from Old Saybrook, Zoie Murphy, and Cori Hofler are from Westbrook, Kaylene Koelle is from Clinton, and Brooke Dellarocco is from Chester.

Brooke Dellarocco of Chester scored 5 star elite and won the National Championship in the 12 and Up Vocal Division with “This is Me.” Sylvia Sonenstein of Madison scored 5 stars and was runner up with “What it Means To Be A Friend.”

In the 12-14 Solo division, Brooke Dellarocco of Chester scored 5 stars and placed 10th out of 70 solos, with her jazz solo “I Gotcha.” Sylvia Sonenstein of Madison scored 5 stars with her musical theater solo “I Can’t Say No.” Gabrielle Walker of Westbrook scored 5 starts with her jazz solo “Big Finish.” Jaidyn Cote of Old Saybrook scored 4 ¾ stars and received a judges special award with her musical theater solo “Rich and Famous.” Megan Murphy of Old Saybrook scored 4 ¾ stars for with lyrical solo “Skinny Love.” Madison Grady of Clinton scored 4 ¾ stars with her open solo “Satan’s Lil Lamb.”

The Mini Competition Team placed fourth in the 9-11 Novice Small Group division with their tap routine “Boogie In The Barnyard,” and fifth with their Jazz “Born To Be Wild.” “Born To Be Wild also received a judges special award. Mini Team members Alexa Cardello, Sofia Taylor, Kylee Pascale, and Cassandra Garcia are from Old Saybrook. Mia Stowik and Sophie Furcolo are from Westbrook, and Briella Dean is from East Haddam.

The Future Stars Competition Team scored 5 stars for “Frozen Baby,” placed eighth in the 8 and Under Novice Small Group Division, won their category, and received a judges special award. Futures Team members Layla Dwyer, Audrey Bragg, and Aubrey Meyer are from Clinton. Delaney Keefe is from Westbrook, and Delilah Calle is from Old Saybrook.

In the 9-11 Novice Solo division Breilla Dean of East Haddam scored 5 stars and placed eighth out of 30 with her jazz solo “It’s All About Me.”

The Junior Competition Team tap dance “Weird Science,” won the 11 and Under Entertainment Award and scored 4 ¾ stars, while “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and “Friend Like Me,” also scored 4 ¾ stars. Junior Competition Team members Isabella Johnson, Olivia Hartmann, Gabriella Navarra, and Madison Grady are from Clinton. Tess Santarsiero, Jaidyn Cote, and Calla Gilson are from Old Saybrook, Sylvia Sonenstein is from Madison, and Gabrielle Walker is from Westbrook.

In the 15-19 solo division, Alix Giannini of Old Saybrook scored 4 ¾ stars and won her category with her contemporary solo “The Girl Behind the Mask.” Giannini also scored 4 ¾ and won her category with her jazz solo “I Put A Spell On You.” Cori Hofler of Westbrook scored 4 ¾ stars and received a judges special award with her solo “Alaska.”

In the 9-11 Solo Division Gabriella Navarra of Clinton scored 4 ¾ stars and received a judges special award with her open solo “Arrival of the Birds.”

In the 8 and Under Novice Solo division Audrey Bragg of Madison scored 5 stars with her jazz solo “The Call.” Layla Dwyer of Clinton scored 4 ¾ stars and received a judges special award with her jazz solo “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.”

It was the conclusion of another very successful season for the Westbrook Dance Academy Competition Teams.

Westbrook Dance Academy offers programs for all ages Beginner to Advanced, Recreational and Competition for all ability levels and ALL ages in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Pointe, Hip-Hop, Boys Hip Hop, Irish Step, Acrobatics, Musical Theater, and Technique Workshops. And for our youngest dancers we offer – Mommy and Me, Tiny Dancers, and Tiny Tumblers programs.

For more information on Westbrook Dance Academy or to register for Summer or Fall classes, call 860 664 4308, email us at westbrookdanceac@aol.com or visit westbrookdanceacademy.com