Accolades abound for American Dance Experience dancers

ADE dancers have danced their way to the top and have taken home an impressive haul of awards after competing in a series of dance competitions.

Groups, duos, trios and soloists from American Dance Experience, based in Hamden, captivated the judges with their spectacular routines at Sheer Elite International, Elite Performance Challenge and Nexstar National Talent Competitions.

Dancers came home with several high score and special awards at Sheer Elite International competition held in Springfield, MA. A special recognition was awarded to Kayla Corcoran, being named the first ever recipient of the Vickie Sheer Award. This award is presented to only one dancer that best exemplifies their dance skills on the stage and in the classroom, and an overall positive attitude towards their teachers and the art of dance.

Elite Performance Challenge paved the way for Kayla Corcoran and Ava Evangeliste for being selected to be Elite Dancers. The Elite Dancer Program stems a partnership with Excel in Motion Dance Convention. Elite Dancers earn the opportunity to assist master teachers on stage during the Excel tour and will assist choreographers during classes. The girls were chosen by the judges after receiving highest scores in their respective divisions. Kayla and Ava will be assisting the So You Think You Can Dance teachers at the Excel convention tour in the fall .

This past weekend, dancers took home several top awards at the Nexstar National Talent Competition. Dancers ranging from age 8 to 18 were awarded top honors, several first overall awards and special judges awards. The petite large tap group, Hit the Road Jack, was awarded 1st overall in their respective division. The junior small tap group, Time for Tea, was awarded a 1st overall in their respective division and a Choreography Award . The teen/senior tap line, Chopsticks, was awarded 1st overall in their respective division, 1st place overall advanced teen line, the Performance Award, 1st Place Tap Medal of Excellence (highest scoring tap number of the entire weekend) and Regional Champion for all Advanced Teen groups and performance award. All three were recipients of the “Golden Ticket”, an invite-only competition to perform at the World Dance Championship at the Meadowlands in August.

“All three teams, as well as all dancers performed their hearts out and danced their absolute best!” said Alicia Corcoran, owner of American Dance Experience. “I am so proud of these amazingly gifted dancers. They work so hard and sacrifice so much. I am even more proud of the way they carry themselves off the stage and the friendships being made that will last a lifetime. A big thank you to the best group of parents who always show their support for these amazing kids.”

American Dance experience wraps up their regional competition season this weekend at Energy National Dance Competition in Manchester (April 28 & 29).