Area dancers earn national first-place honors

On the Bright Side

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From left, Mariah Pierce, 14, of Sidney, and Lexus Coughlin, 14, of Mount Upton, wave during a parade celebrating the Kennedy Performing Arts Center of Sidney's recent championships won at the Access Broadway National Championships held in Hershey Park, Pa. Benjamin Patton

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July 10, 2012

Area dancers earn national first-place honors

Mark Boshnack Daily Star The Daily Star Tue Jul 10, 2012, 09:47 AM EDT

Dancers from Kennedy Performing Arts Centre recently won a number of top honors at a national performing arts competition at Hershey, Pa.

The event run by Access Broadway was held July 3 to Saturday. The private company hosts a series of such regional events. The July contest was for those who qualified at one of the earlier performances, school director Tara Judd said.

To mark the success, many of the 28 students were escorted by fire trucks from the Sidney Fire Station on River Street to the high school in a ceremony,

The students, age 6 to 18, returned from event Sunday, Judd said. She said she was glad that the village extended the tradition for her dancers. It was arranged by a former teacher.

“We’re extremely proud of the school and its dancers,” Mayor Andrew Matviak said. The recent success “says a lot for quality of the programs at the school.”

Judd said about the students’ performances, which earned dozens of first-place trophies: “It was overwhelming and exciting. Hearing our name called again and again and again left us speechless.”

Among the trophies won were for best 12-and-under Broadway production; best teen group in the lyrical, contemporary, hip-hop and open divisions; best teen group overall; best choreography; and top scoring routine. There were about 650 routines overall performed by groups during the event, she said.

Among the individuals who won was Tanner Reed, 12. Her trophies included best 12-and-under soloist, and along with Trevor Northrop, 15, best teen duet.

“It was really fun,” Tanner said. She has been dancing at the studio, owned by her aunt Niki Reed, for five years. She said she was really nervous waiting to find out the results, and it was a “relief” when they were announced. She said she hopes to dance professionally someday.

The team did well at a May competition at Valley Forge, Pa., to qualify for its appearance, Judd said.

This was the first time that the school entered the national event, Judd said, and based on the results, it won’t be the last.