PowerWorx Dance's Competition Team Wins World Championship

Chantilly-Based Dance Team Also Receives Multiple High Score Awards and Recognition for Excellence in Choreography

Chantilly, VA - PowerWorx Dance (PWD) recently brought home to Virginia 4 World Championship Titles from the World Dance Championship (WDC) presented by the Star Dance Alliance at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. PowerWorx Dance Competition Team, comprised of 105 dancers from ages 4-18 from all over the northern Virginia area, competed head to head against entrants from more than 200 studios representing the United States, China, Canada and Australia. After performing in both Semi-Final and Final WDC Competitions, PowerWorx won four World Champion Titles, solidifying PWD’s place as a leader on the international competitive dance circuit.

Kathy Helton, Director of the World Dance Championship, said regarding PowerWorx, “the incredible amount of talent and professionalism that the entire PowerWorx organization brings to the World Dance Championship is fabulous. PowerWorx performed amongst extremely competitive routines, truly the best of the best, with people hailing from so many countries and subsequently won Championships as well as placed in the Top Five/Final Five indicated that their performance and the story they told through dance stood out above 475 plus routines that competed that week. The Star Dance and the World Dance Championship congratulate PowerWorx and look forward to seeing the creative and technical strides they bring to the 2017-2018 competitive season.”

PowerWorx Dance Studio Owner and Director Sarah Welz said, “What an amazing end to PWD’s first competitive season. The accomplishment of the team and its dancers is quite remarkable and is a true testament to the experience, commitment, creativity and instruction from their teachers as well as the support from each other and their families.”

Staci Frye, PWD Competition Team Artistic Director, echoed Ms. Welz’s sentiments, adding “I am so proud that PWD could represent Northern Virginia on the Worlds Stage this past week. To have our dances and dancers recognized amongst some of the best from the Star Dance Alliance was a great finish to what has been a memorable year for the PWD Team.”

PWD Competition Team Member and graduating High School Senior, Nelson Meija, spent four years under the tutelage of PowerWorx instructors. Nelson performed in World Champion “Dead in the Water”, choreographed by Jamie and Staci Frye, and five “Final Five” dances. Of his experience, he said, “it was a fun final season. “Dead in the Water” was amazing because we had gone undefeated through the entire regional competition season and nationals as we arrived on the Worlds stage. It was great to compete against all of the other amazing dancers from all around the world. Then, hearing “Dead in the Water” named World Champion was a relief because of the great competition in our category, and I was excited and happy to take the Worlds trophy home to the PowerWorx.” He added, “moving forward, I hope our World Championship legacy at PWD will inspire our new dancers to push themselves toward greatness.” Nelson will continue his emersion in study of dance at Virginia Commonwealth University as a Fine Arts Dance Major in the late August 2017.

According to World Dance Championship Qualification Guidelines, entrance to the World Dance Championship Competition is by invitation only via the receipt of a “Golden Ticket”, a “prestigious invitation to compete (a) Top Scoring Routine at the World Dance Championships.” PowerWorx Dance received several Golden Tickets throughout their regional season and selected fourteen of their dances from their expansive cross-genre repertoire; each dance that was submitted had received a 1st Place ranking during seasonal 2017 regional and/or national bracket and/or overall competitions. Only the top scoring Semi-Final routines at Worlds were allowed to advance and compete in the Finals. All fourteen dances performed by PWD at the World Dance Championship placed in the Top 10. Twelve of PWD’s performances were invited to re-compete in head-to-head and competition in the Finals “Final Five” showdown. In addition to four World Champions for four 1st Place Finals finishes, PWD achieved two 2nd Place awards, three 3rd Place awards, two 4th Place awards, and one 5th place finish. Here are the PWD results at Worlds:

“Are We There Yet” ~ World Champion and 1st Place, Final Five Finalist, Semi-Finalist, choreographed by Lindsay Wochok

“Believe” ~ World Champion and 1st Place, Final Five Finalist, Semi-Finalist, choreographed Jamie and Staci Frye

“Fly” ~ World Champion and 1st Place, Final Five Finalist, Semi-Finalist, choreographed by Jamie and Staci Frye

“Dead in the Water” ~ World Champion and 1st Place, Final Five Finalist, Semi-Finalist, choreographed by Jamie and Staci Frye

“Back to Me” 2nd Place World Champion, Final Five Finalist, Semi-Finalist, choreographed by Jamie and Staci Frye

“Power”~ 2nd Place World Champion, Final Five Finalist, Semi-Finalist, choreographed by Jamie and Staci Frye

“Friend Like Me” ~ 3rd Place World Champion, Final Five Finalist, Semi-Finalist, choreographed by Geralyn Ward

“Somewhere” ~ 3rd Place World Champion, Final Five Finalist, Semi-Finalist, choreographed by Jamie and Staci Frye

“Wonderful World” ~ 3rd Place World Champion, Final Five Finalist, Semi-Finalist, choreographed by Margaret and Alexa Otto

“Boom Box” ~ 4th Place World Champion, Final Five Finalist, Semi-Finalist, choreographed by Jamie and Staci Frye

“Don’t Have To” ~ 4th Place World Champion, Final Five Finalist, Semi-Finalist, choreographed by Jamie and Staci Frye

“Dirty” ~ 5th Place World Champion, Final Five Finalist, Semi-Finalist, choreographed by Jamie and Staci Frye

“Sax” ~ Top 10 Finalist and Semi Finalist, choreographed by Shauna Walsh

“Room” ~ Top 10 Finalist and Semi Finalist, choreographed by Jamie and Staci Frye

In addition to their significant wins at Worlds, PWD garnered other outstanding placements and accolades during their 2017-2018 competitive season. In July, the team competed the Nexstar Talent Nationals Competition in Sandusky, Ohio, and won two Victory Cups and six National Championship Banners as well as numerous Choreography, Performance, and Artistic Excellence Awards.

PWD also garnered a Preliminary Nomination for a global Industry Dance Award for Outstanding Performance, “People’s Choice Award”, for their presentation of “Falling Slowly”, choreographed by Jamie and Staci Frye, at a StarQuest Regional Competition held earlier in the 2017 season in Woodbridge, Virginia. KAR TV’s Industry Dance Awards and Cancer Benefit Show will be held on Wednesday, August 16, 2017, at the historic Avalon Theater in Hollywood, California. This nominated performance of “Falling Slowly” may be viewed online now at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XamRo29zJNo In 2016, PWD also garnered an Industry Dance Award for Outstanding Performance “Best Performance of 2016” for their performance of “Legends”, choreographed by PWD Team Director, Staci Frye, and PWD Senior Instructor Jamie Frye, prior winners of 2013 “Choreographer of the Year” Award for their creation, “Falling Slowly” with its premiere cast. The nominated PWD performance of “Legends”, captured at StarQuest International Performing Arts Competition Regional Competition held this season in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, may be viewed online now at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bw6h4OzF_bg

PWD’s performances also secured placement and appearances on Star Dance Alliance’s 2017 Power Rankings for age brackets 9-11, 12-14, and 15-19 on the Advanced and Intermediate Level as well as ages 8 and Under on Intermediate Level. A full list of Star Dance Alliance’s 2017 Power Rankings may be found at https://www.stardancealliance.com/power-rankings/

In 2016, PowerWorx Dance premiered its inaugural, nationally competitive Competition Team at Nexstar National Talent Dance Competition in Orlando, Florida, July 18th through 23rd. The PWD Team of only 47 dancers aged 6 to 18 secured nine National Championships, five Championship Final Banners in divisional competition, and had eleven dances invited to the finals “Big Show” with all those dances placing in the Top 3 High Scores including five 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 Dance (ages 5-11) from the entire week. Competing studios hailed from Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, among others.

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, international and national 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 2018 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.

For regular updates, please visit the website at http://www.powerworxdance.com and register for our mailing list, like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/powerworxdance/ and follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/powerworxdance/

About Industry Dance Awards

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. More information about IDA may be found at http://industrydanceawards.com

About Star Dance Alliance

Star Dance Alliance is an alliance of top international dance competitions committed to bringing you the greatest dance competition experience of your life. Each of our participating competitions holds the highest standards in competitions and we are reaching ahead into the future every season to provide a power packed competition line up. Full WDC results may be found at http://www.worlddancechampionship.com

About The Industry Dance Awards & Cancer Benefit Show

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. More information about IDA may be found at http://industrydanceawards.com