New Local PowerWorx Dance Team Soars at First Dance Nationals Appearance

PWD WINS 9 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, 5 CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL BANNERS, AND VICTORY CUP AT ITS FIRST DANCE NATIONALS IN ORLANDO

PowerWorx Dance (PWD) Competition Team Earns 9 National Championships, 5 Grand Titles, Multiple High Score Awards, and Recognition for Excellence in Choreography and Performance

Chantilly, VA - Chantilly based PowerWorx Dance (PWD) premiered its inaugural, nationally competitive Competition Team at Nexstar National Talent Dance Competition in Orlando, Florida, July 18th through 23rd, 2016. The PWD Team of only 47 dancers aged 6 to 18 secured 9 National Championships, 5 Championship Final Banners in divisional competition, and had 11 dances invited to the finals “Big Show” with all those dances placing in the Top 3 High Scores including 5 First Place Finishes for the highest overall score (in small groups, large groups & lines combined) for the Petite, Junior, Teen & Senior age groups. PWD’s Junior Team also brought home to Virginia a Victory Cup for the Highest Scoring Junior (ages 9-11) Dance from the entire week. Competing studios hailed from Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, among others.

Team Director, Ms. Staci Frye Kieffer, had this to say about the team’s week: “We are so incredibly proud of our dancers’ accomplishments. The dedication and commitment to excellence shown by this group of dancers and their families to form, work, and succeed has been truly outstanding. We are beyond thrilled at our first showing on the Nationals stage. The competition at Nationals was by far some of the best in the country, and our small team made such an impact. As a brand new team, their stellar achievements were an amazing way to introduce ourselves to the competitive dance industry on the national level.”

Studio Director and Owner, Ms. Sarah Welz added this about the team: “We are so fortunate to have such a talented staff who are not only dedicated to their dancers but incredibly gifted when it comes to creating innovative and thought provoking choreography that was recognized throughout the entire competition. This has been a great start to what will be an incredible future for PWD.”

In their first national competition after a very successful regional season, PWD joined teams from across the nation to compete for distinction at Nexstar National Talent Competition, a member of the Star Dance Alliance family that conducts regional, national and worldwide dance competitions. The Star Dance Alliance is an alliance of top international dance competitions committed to bringing the greatest dance competition experience and culminates with the Worlds Dance Championship held each August at the Meadowlands. For a full list of Nationals results, visit http://registration.nexstarcompetition.com/ClientData/Modules/Dance-Tabulation/WebsiteResults/2016_ORLANDO,_FL-_National_website_result.htm?flag=5665

PWD has been nominated for a global Industry Dance Award for “Best Performance of 2016” for their performance of “Legends” choreographed by PWD Team Director, Staci Frye Kieffer, and PWD Senior Instructor Jamie Frye Pelmore. Winners of these prestigious awards for 2016 will be announced on August 17, 2016, at the Avalon Theater in Hollywood, California. The nominated PWD performance of “Legends”, captured at a PWD regional competition, StarQuest International Performing Arts Competition, held this season in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, may be viewed online now at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bw6h4OzF_bg The Industry Dance Awards & Cancer Benefit Show is an annual event that brings the global dance community together in celebration of creativity, industry innovation, and the fight against cancer. This spectacular event takes place at the historic Avalon Theater in Hollywood where dancers, educators, pioneers, and icons are recognized for their outstanding achievements and artistic contributions. A star-studded red carpet, brilliant performances, and a presentation from Dancers Against Cancer Foundation combine to make the IDA the most prestigious event in the dance industry. PWD instructors and choreographers, Staci Frye Kieffer and Jamie Frye Pelmore, won Industry Dance Awards for “Choreographers of the Year” in 2013 for their work, “Falling Slowly”, viewable at http://industrydanceawards.com/2013/winners For more information about Industry Dance Awards and to view the nominees for “Best Performance of 2016”, please visit http://industrydanceawards.com/2016/vote/115/best-performance-of-2016

About Powerworx Dance Competition Team

PWD Team dancers compete at the regional, national, and world levels. Dancers on the team range from ages of 4-18 and compete in Lyrical, Hip Hop, Jazz, Tap, Open, Musical Theater and Contemporary categories. PWD recently announced its roster of renowned choreographers, instructors, competition team coaches, and studio class teachers. With a caliber of talent that brings more than 30 years of experience, PWD boasts a team that has won awards at the local, regional, national and Worlds levels – including Staci Frye Kieffer, PWD Team Director, Margaret Otto, PWD Studio Manager and Senior Instructor, Jamie Frye Pelmore, Senior Instructor, Geralyn Ward, Senior Instructor, Nicole Otto, Senior Instructor, Lindsay Wochok, Senior Instructor, Kayli Hueston, Acro Specialist and Instructor, and Zoey Cruz, Hip Hop Director and Instructor. PWD has also hired the dance powerhouse, Ms. Virginia Frye, as its Studio Consultant and Head of Costuming. This powerful staff is well respected in the competitive and local dance community for their award winning work with dancers of all levels and ages.

In their inaugural 2016 season, many members of PWD’s team of 47 dancers, ages 6 to 18, were nominated for a global Industry Dance Award for “Best Performance of 2016” for their performance of “Legends” choreographed by PWD Senior Staff, Staci Frye Kieffer and Jamie Frye Pelmore. Winners of these prestigious awards for 2016 will be announced on August 17, 2016, at the Avalon Theater in Hollywood, California. The nominated PWD performance of “Legends”, captured at a PWD regional competition, StarQuest International Performing Arts Competition, held this season in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, may be viewed online now at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bw6h4OzF_bg PWD earned 9 National Championships, 6 Banners, and a distinguished Victory Cup at their first dance nationals at NexStar National Talent Competition held in Orlando, Florida, in July, 2016.

About Powerworx Dance

Founded in 2016 by Sarah Welz, PowerWorx Dance (PWD) is a Northern Virginia-based Dance Studio that focuses on each dancer’s development, growth, and confidence. PWD provides dancers of all ages and all levels with a studio home that puts first each dancer’s personal development enabling them to grow in a positive and constructive environment. With a staff of locally-based, award-winning instructors and choreographers, PWD offers all dancers the opportunity to train with the very best that Northern Virginia has to offer.

PWD, which officially opened its doors in July 2016, is located in Chantilly, Virginia at 3800 Concorde Parkway, conveniently located off the US 50/Route 28 corridor. The studio offers dance opportunities for students from ages 2-18 in a constructive environment where dancers can focus on dance fundamentals and technique. The PowerWorx Fall schedule is currently available online at www.powerworxdance.com and open for registration with studio classes that range from introductory combination classes to more advanced skill-based classes.

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