St. Michael-Albertville Dancers Step it Up in Chicago

Recently seven St. Michael-Albertville kids travelled to Chicago to compete in the New York City Dance Alliance Midwest Regional’s. Ranging in age from 8 to 14, these talented kids – Alyssa Ulrick, Ashley Sammon, Becca Peterson, Haley Foucault, Kasey Dumonceaux, Hannah Peterson and Lauren Verhulst spent three days honing their skills, competing against the nation’s best dancers, and having the time of their lives.

The STMA youth joined about a hundred of their teammates and parents, all from Northland School of Dance in Champlin. They boarded large charter buses before dawn on a Friday morning and were competing on stage that night. The whirlwind weekend would not end till the buses pulled back up to Northland Monday night. Although many of these kids compete with Northland all over the US and the world, this trip is a highlight of the year for the students because it’s the first big judged event of the year – kicking off the dance competition season that would extend through July.

“Yes it’s stressful and crazy, but we actually love it! The best part is we do it as a family and it’s just an awesome weekend!” explains seasoned dance Mom Kristi Dumonceaux.

If dance competitions had an “Olympics” – NYCDA would be it. The New York City Dance Alliance is widely considered the pinnacle of dance competitions. From October through April, NYCDA travels around the country hosting regional workshops and competitions. At these glamorous events, dancers and teams of dancers earn trophies and titles and hopefully secure a spot to compete at the NYCDA’s Nationals in July. Dancers compete in solos, duets, trios, small groups, large groups and lines in over a dozen genres of dance.

 The kids were assigned rooms based on age and were in class early each morning – working full tilt till late afternoon. Each hour a different celebrity teacher would come in to teach a class and a piece from their genre of dance. The classes covered ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, hip hop and contemporary dance. These teachers are famous names that choreograph the dance videos of rock stars and the numbers you see on shows such as “So You Think You Can Dance.” They also really know how to connect with kids.

“My hip hop teacher – Tony (Testa) – said we had to put on baggy sweatpants and get loose,” squealed second grader Becca Peterson. “He said we couldn’t learn hip hop if we danced like ballerinas – so forget ballet and just bust a move!”

 At the end of the second day, a few select kids from each age room were invited to audition for outstanding dancers and hopefully an invitation to compete in New York. Over half of the STMA crew made the final rounds of auditions.

Two won scholarships and are on their way to New York.

Haley won second overall best solo of the weekend and a chance to compete her solo in New York for a national title. She also earned a top dancer spot and was invited to compete for national grand champion for the teens.

Alyssa Ulrick earned a top dancer award as well, and was likewise invited to go compete in New York for national grand champion for teens. She will compete against her own teammate Haley. This is a familiar position for these young ladies. Typically they stand in the top ten competing against their best friends.

 In total 14 kids from Northland earned spots at the New York City Nationals.

“We are used to competing against each other, and we are just really excited to be there together. I cheer the loudest for my friends competing against me,” said Alyssa Ulrick. “The day is tough enough – you have to make it fun!”

 “We bring the kids here to get them excited about the competition season and to learn from the best of the best – Joe Lanteri and his team. If you want to reach the top of your game in dance – you will want to train with Joe,” said Teresa Rolf, owner of Northland School of Dance, explaining why the group makes this trek every February.

 But it’s not all work. “I should probably say I love NYCDA best for the dancing – and I do love the dancing,” shares New York bound winner Tyler Ness, “but I really love it when we stop in Wisconsin Dells and buy candy at the Cheese Shop. Sometimes I eat it all even before we get to Chicago!”

Stay tuned to see how those off to Nationals fare this July. Win or lose, they are having the time of their life.