Dancers from Dance Dynamics in Tryon won the highest award at the Star Talent Dance Competition in Spartanburg, S.C. Bethany Smith and Madison Yellen both received High Platinum Awards. This meant that they were less than three points from a perfect score.

Smith, age 8, won with her tap routine, “The Candyman,” and Yellen, age 12 won with her clogging routine “Hit The Floor.” Both students won second Overall (Smith) and third Overall (Yellen) in the Junior Division. Smith’s acro/ jazz routine won sixth Overall, also. Her acro/ jazz routine was performed to “Sharp Dressed Man.”

Luke Umphlett received a Platinum and was the highest scoring solo in the Teen Division. Umphlett performed a tap routine to “Swing Set.” He also received a special judges award, Fancy Feet Award.

Other soloists placing in the top ten Junior Solos were Stevie Reed (seventh Overall, clogging solo), Ada Kelley (ninth Overall, tap solo), and Bailey Lowman (tenth Overall, clogging solo).

The Senior Tap Team won Platinum and fourth Overall in all Senior Groups. The team performed a tap routine to “Bad Boy.” Senior Team members included Nora Contreras, Aliyha Mullins, Juliet Taft, Luke Umphlett, and Lindy Wicklund. This group also won a High Gold with a second tap routine, “I Feel Good.” Their jazz routine won High Gold to “Sweet Dreams.”

The Mini Competition Team received High Gold awards for their tap and jazz routines “Hot Chocolate,” and “I Want Candy.” This team consists of Clancey Coley, Ada Kelley, Gracy Roberts and Bethany Smith.”

The Junior Competition Team received a High Gold award for their tap routine, “Chocolatte.” This team consists of Cheyenne Jennings, Gracie Lance, Kati Shanahan, Hannah Watkins and Maggie Wilson.

Soloists receiving High Gold awards were Ada Kelley and Cheyenne Jennings, both performing jazz solos. Gold winners included the Junior Jazz Team and Kati Shanahan with a jazz solo.

This was the first competition of the season, and all dancers performed very well and used it as a stepping-stone to better themselves for the remainder of the competition season.

– article submitted 

by Missy Fincher