Local Dancers to attend World Dance Championships at the Meadowlands

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 March 24th-26th. The Dance Corner Company competed with over 500 entries, including the Junior Tap Company’s performance of "Rich Girls", choreographed by Brooke Cotter (Killingworth) a Dance Corner graduate and now instructor/choreographer was named Regional Champions. “Rich Girls” received 5 Stars in the AllStar Division, 1st Overall Intermediate 9-11 Small Group, the Judges Award “Bling Bling Cha-Ching” and Brooke Cotter was honored with the Choreography Award. Most notably, the group received an invitation to World Dance Championship at the Meadowlands in August. The “Rich Girls” will be attending in hopes of being named World Dance Champions.
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. This group of dancers and their exceptional teacher worked long and hard this year to make this dance great, and I am so pleased that the judges recognized the hard work and talent in these dancers and their choreographer.”
Dancers in “Rich Girls” consists of Audrey Board (Deep River), Ava Frost (Deep River), Sarah Gaetano (Clinton), Abigail Marciniec (Haddam), Gillian Miller (Killingworth), Sela Rathe (Madison), Alexandra Shea (Ivoryton), Hannah Schilling (Westbrook), and Sophie Winikur (Haddam).

Along with being named a Grand Champion with their group dances, Olivia Papa of Madison and Hannah Schilling of Westbrook, also earned high marks for their lyrical duo, "Don't Worry About Me”, choreographed by Nicole Peterson. They earned 5 stars in the AllStar Division and were awarded 1st Place Overall Intermediate Teen Duo, as well as an invitation to the Power Pack Tour. Dancers Mary Darin (Killingworth), Theresa Pasqualini (Killingworth), and Grace Pendleton (Clinton) were also given invitations to Power Pack for their incredible performances.

The Dance Corner's Powell Company dancers, the youngest competitors in the company, performed a dance, "Mama I'm a Big Girl Now", choreographed by Alison Hammell, at Starpower and earned 4 3/4 stars. They placed 1st Overall in the Star division age 8 and under Duo/Trio. Also at the Starpower regionals, the Jr Jazz Company dance "Hello Bollywood” received the “Entertainment Award” for their performance, and Production Company dance “A Night at the Art Museum” received a High Platinum Award. Teen Lyrical group, “Something in the Water” also placed 1st in their division and category and was awarded a bid to the World Dance Championships. Teen Tap group “Yin & Yang” received 5 Stars, 1st in Category, 2nd Overall Intermediate 12-14 Teen Large Group, and they earned The Dance Corner a third invitation to World Dance Championships!

At the OnStage America Springfield, MA regional competition March 3rd through 5th, The Dance Corner received a Platinum award and 3rd Place Overall Intermediate Teen Small Group award for the jazz dance, "Don’t Rain on My Parade" choreographed by Savanna Bodnar and performed by the Reinking Company dancers- Rachel Delvecchio (Killingworth), Nicole Grief (Deep River), Katie McGoey (Killingworth), Grace Murphy (Killingworth), Sela Rathe (Madison), Sarah Ratzlaff (Killingworth), and Hannah Schilling (Westbrook). Also at OnStage America, the Rogers jazz company comprised of Zoe Balkan (Madison), Audrey Board (Deep River), Ava Frost (Deep River), Sarah Gaetano (Clinton), Abigail Marciniec (Haddam), Gillian Miller (Killingworth), Madison Moriarty (Higganum), Alexandra Shea (Ivoryton), and Sophie Winikur (Haddam) earned a Platinum and Fourth Place Overall in the Intermediate Junior Small group division for their dance, "Hello Bollywood” choreographed by Peterson.

The Dance Corner’s Senior soloists did very well at the OnStage America regional competition. Grace Pendleton of Clinton, received a High Platinum award and 1st Place Overall Intermediate Teen Solo, as well as a scholarship and an invitation to perform at their National Championships, in her solo “ UpSide Down”, choreographed by Samantha Hermann. Sisters Olivia and Samantha Dunsmore of Madison earned a Platinum award and 3rd Place Overall in Intermediate Teen Duos and Trios for their Lyrical duo, “Earth Song” choreographed by Hermann, and Samantha Dunsmore also received 2nd Place Overall Intermediate Teen Solo for her solo “Happy”, choreographed by Savanna Bodnar. Mary Darin of Killingworth and Erin LoMonaco of Chester both received 3rd Place Overall in their respective categories. The Dance Corner Duos were the big winners in Springfield. “Can’t Stop the Feelin’”, danced by Rachel DelVecchio(Killingworth) and Kayla Pellegrini(Clinton), took home a High Platinum award and 1st Place Overall Intermediate Teen Duo/Trio, for their tap duo choreographed by Brooke Cotter. Additionally, Grace Pendleton(Clinton) and Emily Bachand(Ivoryton) received a High Platinum and 1st Overall Intermediate Junior Duo/Trio, for their lyrical duo, “Count on Me” choreographed by Nicole Peterson.
A Special congratulations to the group “Something in the Water” who again received a High Platinum award, and placed 1st Overall for their Lyrical dance, choreographed by Samantha Hermann.


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, Alison Hammell, Samantha Hermann, and Nicole Peterson.
The Dance Corner Company is: Chloe Alsback, Katie Alsback, Emily Bachand, Zoe Balkan, Audrey Board, Mary Darin, Rachel Delvecchio, Olivia Dunsmore, Samantha Dunsmore, Ava Frost, Sarah Gaetano, Nicole Grief, Heather Kenney, Erin LoMonaco, Cameryn Ludwin, Abigail Marciniec, Katie McGoey, Gillian Miller, Madison Moriarty, Grace Murphy, Olivia Papa, Theresa Pasqualini, Kayla Pellegrini, Grace Pendleton, Sela Rathe, Sarah Ratzlaff, Katie Roberts, Hannah Schilling, Alexandra Shea, Maev Webster, and Sophie Winikur.
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, LLC, located in Killingworth, CT, is dedicated to providing its students with a well-rounded education in all facets of dance. Their classes are designed to increase confidence, build self-esteem and develop coordination in an interactive, group environment. With instruction for all ages and levels of experience, The Dance Corner is committed to providing its students with a positive learning environment to enjoy the art of dance. 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.