Our dance season kicked off with a fantastic experience at the Legacy Dance Championships. As a proud dance parent from Lake Area Dance Center (LADC), this competition marked Grace’s first foray into the Junior division, a significant step for one of the younger dancers in her class. The weekend was filled with excitement, impressive performances, and valuable insights into the competitive dance world.
While Grace wasn’t scheduled to dance until Sunday, we eagerly attended Saturday’s events to support our LADC studio mates. The energy was infectious as we cheered on the Sugarplums (5-6 year olds) and Sparkles (7-8 year olds). We were treated to a diverse showcase of talent, watching captivating large group routines, intimate solos, and dynamic duets and trios. The awards ceremonies were a highlight, with numerous Lake Area dancers achieving top 3 placements in their solo and trio categories. The Sparkles particularly shone, dominating their division with a clean sweep: first place in tap, second in jazz, and third in ballet. The Sugarplums also made their mark, securing a spot in the top 7. It was a refreshing change of pace to be in the audience, simply enjoying the artistry and dedication of these young dancers, without the usual whirlwind of backstage preparations and costume changes.
Young dancers performing on stage at the Legacy Dance Championships, showcasing their talent and passion for dance.
The Burnsville Performing Arts Center: An Ideal Dance Competition Venue
The Legacy Dance Championships were held at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center, a venue we were already familiar with from the previous year’s Masquerade competition. This location is truly exceptional. Grace was thrilled to be back in the spacious dressing rooms located conveniently behind the stage, especially enamored with the brightly lit, mirrored vanities – a dream for any dancer preparing for their moment in the spotlight.
The auditorium itself is expansive, offering excellent sightlines and ample seating for spectators. This year, I ventured up to the upper balcony to get a different perspective and was astonished to see it was packed, highlighting the popularity of the event. Both inside and out, the Burnsville Performing Arts Center is aesthetically pleasing and provides generous space for dancers and attendees to relax, practice, and socialize. Its location is also highly convenient, with numerous hotels and dining options nearby. The free parking ramp is an added bonus, making logistics stress-free. Overall, we are big fans of this venue and eagerly anticipate future events here.
However, no venue is without its minor drawbacks. The food concessions at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center were on the pricier side. $3 for a bottle of soda seemed excessive. Lunch options included Subway bag lunches for $6.50, which, while reasonably priced for a 6-inch sub, chips, and cookie, proved to be less than ideal. The pre-assembled sandwiches were soggy due to lettuce and tomato already included. This pre-packaging was problematic for Grace, who, after discovering the soggy sandwich, voiced her hunger-induced displeasure. Perhaps offering lettuce and tomato separately in the future would be a worthwhile adjustment. On a related note, Grace’s tomato allergy meant she couldn’t eat the sandwich anyway.
A Well-Organized and Energetic Dance Event
The organization of the Legacy Dance Championships was commendable. The competition ran remarkably close to schedule. While there were moments when they ran ahead of time, they efficiently managed to get back on track, minimizing wait times and keeping the energy flowing. The judges and the Emcee were fantastic, bringing enthusiasm and positive vibes to the event. The “judges awards” were a fun and engaging addition, adding an extra layer of recognition for outstanding performances. Both days we spent at the competition were thoroughly enjoyable, testament to the well-run nature of the event.
Impressive Talent and Stiff Competition at Legacy
The level of competition at Legacy was once again incredibly high. We witnessed outstanding performances from various dance studios, many of whom also received placement awards. These studios included Dancin’ on Broadway, 4th Street Dance Centre, Jam Hops, Jan’s School of Dance, Metro Dance Center, and Arabesque School of Dance, among others. The competition levels were categorized into “Novice,” “Intermediate,” and “Advanced.” There was also a “Competitive” level, although the distinction between “Competitive” and “Advanced” wasn’t entirely clear. The depth of talent across all categories was truly impressive, showcasing the dedication and hard work of these young dancers and their instructors.
Reflections on the Judging Process
The judging panel at Legacy appeared to be fair and professional. While I may not have agreed with every single scoring decision – there were a few dances that I personally felt deserved Platinum instead of Elite Gold, and vice versa – I acknowledge that I am not a dance professional. The judges undoubtedly had a more trained eye and were evaluating aspects of the performances that I might have overlooked. It also occurred to me that perhaps some dances might have been entered in categories that weren’t the absolute best fit for their style, potentially influencing scores. Overall, the judging seemed thoughtful and aimed at recognizing excellence in dance.
Grace's joyful expression upon learning about her Platinum award at the Legacy Dance Championships, celebrating her hard work and achievement.
I was incredibly proud of all the dancers from our studio. This competition marked their strongest performances yet for their three routines. I’m excited to see them continue to grow and refine their skills with each subsequent performance.
The scoring system and awards at Legacy are structured to rank each routine based on total points, with rankings ranging from Silver to Platinum (Silver, High Silver, Gold, Elite Gold, and Platinum). Each dancer received a ribbon corresponding to their ranking, and the group received a trophy. Grace was slightly disappointed that Legacy didn’t offer pins, which were a favorite from the previous year’s competitions. The LADC Angels achieved remarkable success, earning Elite Gold for their lyrical piece “God Bless America,” and Platinum awards for both their jazz routine “Body Language” and their tap performance to “Hungry Like a Wolf.”
In addition to the standard rankings, each judge awarded three “special awards” of their choosing. While the Angels didn’t receive any of these special recognitions, several other LADC groups were honored.
Placement awards were also presented, with plaques awarded based on overall placement within each category. Grace’s group achieved 7th place overall for lyrical, 5th for jazz, and 3rd for tap. A particularly prestigious accolade was given to Maria, their instructor and the owner of LADC, who received the “Best Choreography Award for Ages 12 and Under” for her innovative choreography in “Hungry Like a Wolf.” This award was especially significant, recognizing her choreography as number one out of 299 dances – a truly remarkable achievement!
Lake Area Dance Center's dance group proudly displaying their awards at the Legacy Dance Championships, showcasing their studio's success and teamwork.
Minor Hiccups and Overall Positive Takeaway
During the awards ceremony, there was a minor oversight when the Emcee accidentally skipped 5th place in one category. The girls knew they had scored higher in their jazz routine than their lyrical, which had already been placed. As the ceremony progressed to the top spots, some of the girls momentarily thought they might be announced as number one. When another group was called for first place, confusion set in. Even after Maria approached the judges’ table and clarified that Grace’s group had indeed earned the skipped 5th place, the correction wasn’t publicly announced. While understandable that mistakes happen, especially in live events, it was a little disheartening that the girls’ achievement wasn’t publicly recognized, given their hard work and dedication.
Another minor point was the use of studio code numbers in the program without a corresponding studio name key. This made it challenging to identify studios during the awards ceremony. Including a studio directory in the program would be a helpful improvement for future events.
Despite these minor issues, the Legacy Dance Championships were a resounding success. The dancers navigated quick costume changes with impressive composure and delivered fantastic performances. We had an incredibly fun and rewarding experience at this competition and look forward to returning in the future.
