Westbrook Dance Academy Wins National Championships at Starpower

The Westbrook Dance Academy Competition Teams recently competed in the Starpower Talent National at Mohegan Sun July 10-14, 2017, and returned as National Champions. In a competition with 50 studios, over 1200 entries, and some divisions with over 60 entries, the team scored well and won National Championships in multiple group and solo divisions.

The Irish Step team scored 5 stars for “Warriors,” and won the National Championship in the 15-19 Small Group Division. The dance was also one of only five 12 and Up Small Groups to compete in the Intermediate Battle of The Stars. Irish Step Team members Victoria Holton and Brandi Andrade are from Westbrook, Mara Kelley is from Old Saybrook, and Caroline Bowe is from Madison.

The Senior Competition Team scored 5 stars for their musical theater “Pandemonium,” and open routine “Salem,” and 4 ¾ stars for their lyrical “Sweet Dreams,” placing third, fifth, and seventh respectively in the 15-19 Small Group Division. Pandemonium also received a special award. Senior Competition Team members Brandi Andrade, and Victoria Holton are from Westbrook, Katherine Izadi, Courtney Briggs, and Mara Kelley are from Old Saybrook, and Miles Waterbury is from Clinton.

The Teen Competition Team scored 5 stars for their tap “The Heist,” and lyrical “The Game,” and 4 ¾ stars for their jazz “The Boy Who Lived.” Teen Competition Team members Claire Pease and Kaylene Koelle are from Clinton, Alexandra Lee and Sara Kelly are from Madison, Megan Murphy is from Old Saybrook, and Brooke DellaRocco is from Chester.

The Teen Intermediate Competition Team dances Youth,” (lyrical) scored 5 stars while “Sunday Morning,” (tap) and “Cracks,” (jazz) scored 4 ¾ stars. “Youth” won the National Championship in the 15-19 Novice Small Group division, “Sunday Morning” placed second, and “Cracks” third. Teen Intermediate Competition Team Members Zoie Murphy and Cori Hofler are from Westbrook, Caroline Bowe is from Madison, and Alixandria Giannini is from Old Saybrook.

The Junior Competition Team scored 4 ¾ stars with their tap routine “Bell Hop Boogie,” and jazz “Wicked Little Girls.” Junior Competition Team Members Madison Grady and Gabriella Navarra are from Clinton, Sophia Rutkis is from Westbrook, and Sylvia Sonenstein is from Madison.

The Petite Competition Team scored five stars in their jazz dance, “Surf’s Up,” placing sixth in the 9-11 Novice Small Group division. Petite Competition Team members Katherine Barrera, Olivia Hartmann, and Isabella Johnson are from Clinton, Jaidyn Cote and Calla Gilson are from Old Saybrook, and Kylie Sevigny is from Old Lyme.

The Mini Competition team scored 5 stars for jazz routine “Single Ladies,” placing second overall in the 8 and Under Novice Duo/Trio Division. Mia Stowik is from Westbrook, Briella Dean is from East Haddam, and Julianna Robinson is from Essex.

In the 15-19 solo division, Miles Waterbury scored 5 stars for his tap solo “Singing in the Rain,” and won the National Championship. Brandi Andrade scored 5 stars for her tap solo “Bills,” placing seventh. Victoria Holton scored 5 stars for her tap routine “Feeling Good,” placing ninth. Katherine Izadi’s lyrical “Oceans,” Andrade’s open routine “Alice,” and Holton’s musical theater “Spanish Rose,” each scored 4 ¾ stars and Holton also received a special award for her musical theater.

Caroline Bowe and Cori Hofler scored 4 ¾ stars in their lyrical duo “War of Hearts,” and won the National Championship in the 15-19 Novice Duo/Trio Division. Bowe also won the 15-19 Novice Solo National Championship with her lyrical solo “Kite Song,” Giannini placed second with her open routine “Isle of Flightless Birds.” Each scored 4 ¾ stars.

Brooke Dellarocco scored 5 stars with “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” and won the National Championship in the 12 and Up Vocal Division.

In the 12 and Up Photo Division, Brandi Andrade placed third.

In the 12-14 Solo division, Claire Pease’s lyrical “Defying Gravity,” and Brooke Dellarocco’s jazz “Let me Entertain You,” scored 5 stars, while Mara Kelley’s lyrical “Count on Me,” tap “Shine,” Kaylene Koelle’s tap “Hamlet,” and Alexandra Lee’s lyrical “For Everything a Reason,” each scored 4 ¾ stars.

In the 9-11 Solo division, Sylvia Sonenstein scored 5 stars with her musical theater solo “My New Philosophy,” and placed third overall. Gabriella Navarra’s tap “My Strongest Suit,” and Madison Grady’s jazz “Evil Gal Blues,” each scored 4 ¾ stars with Navarra also receiving a special award.

Jaidyn Cote scored 4 ¾ stars for her jazz solo “Better When I’m Dancing,” in the 9-11 Novice Division.

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

Westbrook Dance Academy offers programs for those aged two to adult at the beginner, advanced, recreational, and competition levels. For more information on Westbrook Dance Academy or to register for summer or fall classes, contact 860-664-4308 or westbrookdanceac@aol.com, or visit www.westbrookdanceacademy.com.