Spirit in Motion Leaps Forward at JUMP

Valley Forge, PA. Members of the Spirit in Motion Ballet Theatre (SIMPT) at the Pennsylvania School of Performing Arts (PSPA), Newtown PA, brought home the Gold Awards and were awarded several personal dance scholarships at the JUMP Dance Convention in Philadelphia, January 29-31, 2016.

“I was blown away,” said TerryiGarcia Lee, creative director and owner at PSPA. “I am so proud of the hard work from our girls and our instructors.”

Kaelyn Kear, age 13, won a ballet scholarship and gold metal for her ballet solo of Coppelia, Act One (see photo), choreographed by both guest instructor, Eddie Tovar, former principal dancer with the Texas Ballet Theatre and the prestigious Orlando Ballet and Garcia Lee, who has starred on several Broadway productions, including Cats and West Side Story.

The company also performed a moving number, “Finding My Way,” which won another gold medal in the hip-hop division and a standing ovation by many audience members. “The girls were so in synch. I think that is because they really support each other. We try to encourage them to look out for each other. They are all like sisters. We are like family,” said Lee.

Kasha Jade won one of the rare highest JUMP VIP scholarships for her work in the contemporary audition. Angelina Mancuso, Gloria Winkler, and Danielle Cherkassky all won a ballet scholarships, Peyton Smith, won a jazz/contemporary scholarship. Jaida Jop and Veronica Leite both won high silver awards for their moving and complex contemporary solos in the teen division.

For more information on the SIMPT and PSPA, go to www.pspastudios.com.