JJ Dance performances rake in dozens of medals at recent competition

Main photo: The JJ Dance junior hip hop company “Work” took home the most awards of the weekend with a Dynamic Gold, first place, first place overall, third highest scoring routine, and Junior Cup Champions! They are (from left) Noah Banks, Claire Quinlan, Darian Adams, Allie Peace, Bella Main, Will Demaine, Kira Smith, Cali Turnbull and Sammy Chochlowsky. (supplied)

They may be a small team, but they are mighty and recent results showed it. The JJ Dance competitive dance team participated in the Dance Canada Competition on March 28-31 in Collingwood and came away with more medals and awards than they have team members.

“We could not be more proud of this small but mighty team of 34 competitive dancers who represented Huntsville so well,” says studio owner Jennifer Johns-Main.

The 34 dancers competed in group, duet and solo productions that brought in 24 Dynamic Gold medals (mark of 93 and over) and 20 High Gold medals (mark of 90 to 92.99). Many of the dancers were dancing out of their comfort zones or dancing into the stars in their jazz, lyrical and ballet performances.

Among the weekend’s highlights were the Acro group “Wondergirls” who received the third highest score in the entire Novice category. JJ Dance Studio took the top three spots for the highest Junior competitive score with Bella Main in first for her open solo “J Lo Jr.”, Darian Adams and Bella Main in second for their open duet “Think”, and the Hip hop group “Work” in third. The JJ production “80’s Movie Mania” received Top Production and the Junior Hip hop group “Work” were the Junior Cup Champions with the highest score.

The overall award winners were:

Novice category

Petite Ballet Group age 8 and under “Toy Soldiers” – Dynamic Gold and 1st place overall
Junior pre-competitive Jazz age 11 to 12 “Diamonds” – Dynamic Gold and 1st place overall
Petite Acro age 9 to 10 “Wondergirls” – Dynamic Gold and 1st place overall and the 3rd highest Novice score
Emma McLellan and Lauren Lane Ballet Duet “Midnight Waltz” – received 1st place overall
Katie Fernandez Acro Solo “Wicked Game” – 1st place overall
Kalen Campbell Jazz Solo – 2nd place overall

The Petite Ballet group (from left) Emma Allen, Chloe Plouffe, Taylor Shakespeare, Isla Bell, Alyssa Oakley, Kaylen Campbell, Lexi Reain, and Cecelia Broadbent won Dynamic Gold, 1st place overall and “Commanding Concept” Defining Moment award. A big shout out to the Petite Acro group (not pictured) as well for receiving the Highest score in the Novice Division. (supplied)

The JJ Dance Pre Competitive Jazz group (from left) Lauren Lane, Allie Peace, Katie Fernandez, Emma McLellan, Ava Williamson, and Samantha Chochlowsky won first place overall (supplied)

Lauren Lane and Emma McLellan won received Dynamic Gold and first place overall for their ballet duet “Mascaraed Waltz” (supplied)

Competitive Junior category

Petite Jazz Group age 8 and under “Big Bad Wolf” – received a 1st and 2nd place overall
Claire Quinlan age 9 to 10 Hip Hop Solo “Queen C” – 2nd place overall
Darian Adams age 9 to 10 Jazz Solo “I’m a Star” – 1st place overall
Noah Banks and Cali Turnbull age 9 to 10 Hip Hop Duet “Time of our Lives” – 2nd place overall
Darian Adams and Bella Main age 9 to 10 Open Duet “Think” – received 1st overall and the second highest score in the Junior category
Junior Jazz Group age 9 to 10 “Perm” – 1st place overall
Bella Main age 11 to 12 Open Solo “J Lo Jr.” – 1st place overall and highest score in the Junior category
Junior Hip Hop Group age 11 to 12 “Work” – 1st place overall and 3rd highest Junior score as well as the Junior Cup Champions
Intermediate Jazz Group age 11 to 12 “Hey Pachuco” – 1st place overall
Intermediate Acro Group age 11 to 12 “Game of Survival” – 3rd place overall

Noah Banks and Cali Turnbull won second overall and “What a Blast” Defining Moment award (supplied)

Bella Main and Darian Adams won Dynamic Gold first overall and the second highest score in the Junior Division for their Jazz duet. Bella also received first overall for her open solo and highest score of the Junior Division (supplied)

Senior Competitive category

Emma McLellan Acro Solo age 13 to 15 “New Moon” – 2nd place overall
Briar Summers Song and Dance Solo age 13 to 15 – placed 1st overall
Katie Fernandez and Will Demaine Hip hop Duet “We Bad” – 2nd place overall
Intermediate Hip Hop Group “Soundclash” – 3rd place overall
Sadie Hamilton Ballet Solo “Sugar Plum Fairy” – 2nd place overall
Alexus Banks and Briar Summers Jazz Duet “Another one Bites the Dust” – 3rd place overall
Kaitlyn Wright Jazz Solo “Le Jazz Hot” – received an impressive 2nd place finish out of 6 dancers in a tough category

Senior Dancers (from left) Briar Summers, Kaitlyn Wright, Sadie Hamilton, and Alexus Banks. Briar received first overall and “Broadway Baby” defining moment for her song and dance solo “Show Off”. Kaitlyn received an impressive second place out of six dancers in a tough category for jazz solo “Le Jazz Hot”. Sadie Hamilton received second overall for Ballet solo “Sugar Plum Fairy”. Alexus and Briar received third overall for their Jazz duet “Another One Bites the Dust” (supplied)

(From left) William Demaine, Katie Fernandez, Kayley Wright, and Emma Harvey. Kayley and Emma came in a close second with Hip hop duet “Hands Up”. Willie D and Katie took first place and second overall for hip hop duet “We Bad” (supplied)

The Intermediate/Senior Ballet Group (from left) Lauren Lane, Briar Summers, Kaitlyn Wright, Emma McLellan, Sadie Hamilton, Alexus Banks, and Emma Harvey received Dynamic Gold (supplied)

Defining Moment Awards

Kalen Campbell Jazz Solo: “Good Morning”
Petite Ballet Group: “Commanding Concept”
Intermediate Jazz Group: “Flawless”
(Mentioned Choreography)
Noah Banks and Cali Turnbull: “What a Blast”
Intermediate Acro Group: “Choreography”
Briar Summers Song and Dance Solo: “Broadway Baby”
Petite Acro Group: “Marvel-ous Acro”
Junior Hip Hop Group: “Sick Style”
Junior Jazz Group: “Personality Plus”
80’s Movie Mania Production: “Two Thumbs Up”

“Way to go dancers on an impressive finish to the first competition of the season,” said Johns-Main.

The team will be heading to Starbeat Dance Challenge in a couple of weeks to do it all over again.

The JJ Dance competitive team members are: Darian Adams, Emma Allen, Alexus Banks, Noah Banks, Isla Bell, Cecelia Broadbent, Kaylen Campbell, Samantha Chochlowsky, Kaidyn Bailey, Will Demaine,
Samantha Edwards, Claire Feltis, Katie Fernandez, Morgan Haidner, Sadie Hamilton, Emma Harvey, Lauren Lane, Bella Main, Piper McDonald, Emma McLellan, Allyssa Oakley, Allie Peace, Chloe Plouffe, Claire Quinlan, Lexie Reain, Brenna Smith, Kira Smith, Briar Summers-Arndt, Cali Turnbull, Kaitlyn Wright, and Kayley Wright.

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