Diamond Dance Academy To Host Recital
TEAM SYNERGY (submitted photo)
Tucked away on the south side of Oskaloosa is a GEM in the rough! Diamond Dance Academy under the direction of Kasey Jorgensen is home to TEAM SYNERGY. Twenty three dancers from Oskaloosa, Ottumwa and Eddyville, ranging in age from 6 to 16 make up this team. These hard working youth train year round and sometimes 6 days a week to compete in local, Regional and National Competitions.
This year they have competed in Des Moines at Celebration Dance, Ames at Brav0! Dance Competition, Cedar Rapids at Midwest Starz and look forward to competing in the Wisconsin Dells for Celebration Dance Nationals. They have brought home some serious hardware to show for it with some of the dancers competing in as many as nine routines per competition.
They are scored by a panel of judges and ranked according to choreography, performance, technique and musicality/timing within their age divisions. They may also receive a special judge’s award for their routine. Team members compete in solos, duets/trios, small groups, large groups and line dances that comprise the whole team.
The judges’ awards are overall and limited amounts are handed out each day of the competition. Regional Competitions are generally held over a 3 day period; with Nationals being held over a 6 day period.
This year’s awards include the following: At Celebration Dance Competition: Line – For The Love of Money 1st overall; Large Group – To Build a Home 2nd overall; Small Group – Soldier 1st overall; Small Group – Strut 2nd overall; Small Group – 9 to 5 4th overall and judges choice award; Soloist Gabriella Stropes – Takin’ Off 3rd overall; Soloist Gabriella Stropes -This Is Me Soloist Jordan Czerwinski – Welcome To The 90’s judges choice award; Duet of Brenna Lindgren, Olivia Muir – Popular 3rd overall and Duet of Gabriella Stropes, Sadie Blommers – Jack 2nd overall.
Brav0! Dance Competition: Line – For The Love of Money 2nd overall and costume award; Large Group – Hide and Seek 2nd overall and Standing Ovation Award; Small Group – Proud Mary 3rd overall; Small Group – Wade In The Water 2nd overall and choreography award; Small Group – 9-5 4th overall and entertainment award; Soloist Gabriella Stropes – Takin’ Off 1st overall; Soloist Gabriella Stropes – This Is Me judges choice award; Soloist Lola Wilson – Good Morning 4th overall; Duet of Emily Carriker, Morgan Ford – What About Us judges choice award; Trio of Banx Blackwell, James Oaks, Maryn Scott – Greased Lightning 2nd overall; Duet of Gabriella Stropes, Sadie Blommers – Jack 4th overall and judges choice award.
Midwest Starz Dance Competition: Line – For The Love of Money 2nd place; Large Group – To Build A Home – 2nd place overall and judges choice award; Large Group – Hide and Seek 4th overall; Small Group – Soldier 2nd overall and judges choice award; Small Group – Check It Out 2nd overall; Small Group – Wade In The Water 1st overall; Soloist Gabriella Stropes – Takin’ Off 3rd overall and judges choice award; Soloist Kaelan Knudtson – Rise Up 4th overall; Soloist Jordan Czerwinski – Welcome To The 90’s – judges choice award; Soloist Emily Carriker – Poker Face 4th overall; Soloist Myra Bogatze – Footloose 1st overall; Trio of Banx Blackwell, James Oaks, Maryn Scott – Greased Lightning 5th overall; Duet of Emily Carriker, Morgan Ford – What About Us 3rd overall.
Team members include: Allison Campbell, Aubrey Ayala, Ava VanderLinden, Banx Blackwell, Brenna Lindgren, Caitleen Potot, Emily Carriker, Gabriella Stropes, Gentrie Sarver, Hailey Harbour, James Oaks, Jili Butler, Jordan Czerwinski, Kaelan Knudtson, Lola Wilson, Maryn Scott, Morgan Ford, Myra Bogatzke, Olivia Muir, Rees Campbell, Ryleigh Wilken, Sadie Blommers, Tae Butler.
Diamond Dance Academy offers recreational dance as well as the competitive dance classes.
The public has an opportunity to see these dancers along with the recreational dancers at their annual spring recital “ALL THAT GLITZ & GLAM” at the George Daily Auditorium Saturday May 5, 2018 at 4 pm. Cost is $5 for adults and $3 for students.
