Students from L.A. Dance in Lake Orion attended the Hall of Fame Nationals in Chicago in June, and had their best year to date at the competition.
L.A. Dance owner/instructor Laura Berger said her studio competes every year, and that this year was one of the best.
‘Last year it was in Ohio, and this year we placed better,? she said. ‘All the kids had a great time.?
Frank Ciccone finished ninth overall out of 42 acts, with his hip-hop solo. Brian Hernandez took home a First Place Platinum Award, third overall out of 41 acts, and received a Best Entertainment Award for his hip-hop solo.
Hernandez and Courtney Zanni took home a Platinum Award, third place overall out of 25 acts, and a Best Showmanship Award for their duet.
Jodie Parker and Ryan Plecha received a First Place Platinum Award, Fabulous Feet Award, and came in second overall out of 27 acts in the Teen Duet Division for their tap duet.
L.A. Dance’s Future Hall of Famer Small Group danced to ‘Can’t Turn You Loose,? and took home a Platinum Award, fifth overall out of 48 acts, as well as a Fabulous Feet Award.
The group also danced to ‘A Little Circus,? and took home a Platinum Award, sixth overall out of 48 acts.
All of the these students also made it to the World Series of Dance Showcase, which had the top five from each age group recompeting at the end of the week. Only first place awards are given out in the World Series competition.
In the Nationals, Nicole Bell and Taylor Gray of L.A. Dance came in fifth overall out of 38 acts, with their jazz duet. Ryan Plecha and Lisa Lukacs came in seventh overall out of 27 acts, with their tap duet.
The Junior Small Group Jazz won with their number ‘Rock the World,? and received a Platinum Award, finishing sixth overall out of 65 acts.
The group also won with their number ‘Start the Commotion,? and received First Place Platinum and Fabulous Feet Awards, finishing seventh overall out of 65 acts.
The group won again with their number ‘Girlpower,? receiving a Platinum Award, and finishing eighth overall out of 65 acts. The group also won with their number ‘Music in Me,? finishing ninth overall out of 65 acts.
L.A. Dance has already begun preparing choreography for the new dance season, and competitions will begin in Feb. of 2007. The studio competes in five regionals every year.
‘The kids get more opportunities to perform in front of an audience,? Berger said of the regional competitions. ‘It’s a very positive experience, and everyone gets some type of award.?
L.A. Dance holds auditions every June for its competition teams, and is always accepting students for the recreation programs.
For a list of available programs, visit www.ladance.us, or call 393-1339.