This past week was an exciting one for Lake Area Dance (LADC) as we participated in the prestigious Masquerade National Dance Championship in Burnsville, MN. This event, a true Spotlight Dance Competition, kicked off on Monday with captivating Intermediate level solo performances. The energy was already high that evening as Masquerade hosted a fantastic Welcome Party for all the participants. Featuring pizza and a karaoke DJ, it was an event we were determined not to miss this year after hearing about the fun everyone had last year.
Unfortunately, due to Michael’s hip hop class, we couldn’t arrive early enough to catch the solo performances.
Dancers at an awards ceremony, showcasing their achievements.
However, we made it just in time for the awards ceremony and were thrilled to see Madelyn J., Emilia S., Elizabeth D., and Eliana F. recognized with top placements. The celebration continued outside with pizza, and Grace enthusiastically started the karaoke session with a Taylor Swift hit. Soon, a stream of talented girls, and one brave boy who impressed with a Minecraft parody, took to the mic. It felt like Lake Area dancers were performing every other song, with even some of the teachers joining in the fun! The party was a blast, lasting well into the evening until the mosquitoes became too persistent, and we realized we were among the last ones still enjoying the festivities.
Tuesday brought the opportunity for Master Classes, a highlight Grace had thoroughly enjoyed last year. She was eager to participate again this year, but a pinky toe injury sustained the week before Nationals gave her pause. Worried about compromising her performance later in the week when her group would compete, she decided to sit out the intense Master Classes. Several of her teammates did participate and raved about the experience, further fueling Grace’s eagerness for future opportunities.
Friday was the day Grace’s group, the Angels, took center stage in this spotlight dance competition. An early start and a drive to Burnsville ensured we arrived with ample time to prepare. Once Grace was settled in the dressing room and fully ready for her first performance – tap – I headed to the auditorium, eager to witness the day’s incredible dances. The atmosphere was electric! Michael joined me later, bringing his iPod to entertain himself and the other dance brothers amidst the excitement.
The Angels were phenomenal that day, truly embodying the spirit of a spotlight dance competition! They delivered a flawless tap routine, brimming with energy and impeccable synchronization in their footwork and arm movements. The judges clearly agreed, awarding them a platinum rating, a distinction earned by only a select few groups that morning.
Lake Area Dance Center Angels and their choreographer, Mike Dietz, celebrating their dance achievement.
The Lake Area Dance Center Angels with their choreographer/teacher, Mike Dietz.
A short wait followed before their second performance of the day – lyrical. Whatever energy source fueled their lunches, the Angels were bursting with playful silliness backstage! As I needed to assist Grace with a costume change during this dance, I spent a considerable amount of time with them backstage. Their infectious energy was undeniable, and it’s clear their teachers must have many entertaining moments with them.
Being backstage during their lyrical piece, “Tears of an Angel,” usually means I miss seeing the entire performance. Thankfully, Masquerade provides backstage monitors showing the dances, allowing me to watch it with the other dancers and teachers backstage this time. It’s a truly moving dance with a poignant storyline: a girl surrounded by angels, representing her parents’ impending passing in a hospital after an accident. The girls delivered a breathtaking performance, earning unanimous praise from everyone backstage. The judges once again awarded them a platinum score, recognizing its equal excellence to their tap routine.
Later in the afternoon, they showcased their jazz dance, “Cold Hearted Snake.” The preceding performance, set to “Calling All the Monsters” by South Metro Dance Academy, was exceptionally strong and momentarily made me nervous. Grace later confessed she had to stop watching to avoid psyching herself out! Immediately after their dance, Grace mentioned her inverted fan kick wasn’t her best. While she made a few minor errors (a common occurrence for any performer), the group’s overall performance was impressive. Their scorpion section, a point of concern for Miss Maria, was executed flawlessly! The judges were clearly impressed, awarding them their third platinum of the day – triple platinum at Nationals! This incredible achievement highlighted their dedication and talent in this spotlight dance competition.
Navigating Crowded Spaces
A notable schedule change this year was the consolidation of all large group competitions on Friday. The upside was the opportunity to witness almost all the day’s performances. However, the downside was incredibly crowded dressing rooms! Our studio shared a dance studio-sized dressing area with Jamm Dance Co, another sizable studio. With over 60 dancers from our studio and nearly 70 from theirs, imagine 130 Dream Duffels crammed into one room, along with walkways, changing space, and parents assisting! Initially, the other studio was quite spread out. After a friendly conversation with one of their moms who hadn’t realized the number of people we had, they graciously adjusted, creating a more equitable 50/50 split of the space. This collaborative spirit and consideration were greatly appreciated, making a potentially challenging situation much more manageable. Once again, the sportsmanship among dance parents and dancers was evident and commendable!
Recognizing Achievements: Awards Ceremony
The afternoon awards ceremony was a celebration of hard work and talent. While most LADC dances in the afternoon received platinum awards, it was clear these accolades were earned, not simply given out! Our petite group, the Sparkles, even received a special “Miss Things” Judges’ Award for their captivating performance to “You Better Think.” Awards for categories our studio participated in were as follows:
Petite Recreational Large Group:
- At the Hop – St. Croix Valley Dance Academy (invited back for Petite Encore in Finals)
- Venus – Lake Area Dance Center (invited back for Mini Division National Champion Dance Off in Finals)
- Blue Suede Shoes – South Metro Dance Academy
- Come Fly With Me – Lake Area Dance Center
- Shake Your Tail Feather – St. Croix Valley Dance Academy
Petite Intermediate Large Group:
- You Better Think – Lake Area Dance Center (invited back for Petite Encore in Finals)
- Everybody Needs Somebody – Lake Area Dance Center
- All I Do Is Dream of You – Music General
Junior Intermediate Large Group:
- Heads Will Roll – Lake Area Dance Center
- Cold Hearted Snake – Lake Area Dance Center
- Tears of an Angel – Lake Area Dance Center
- H-Force – Jamm Dance Co
- Munchkinland – Donna’s Doorway to Dance & Drama
Teen Recreational Large Group:
- Toy Soldier – Lake Area Dance Center (invited back for National Champion Recreational Division Dance Off in Finals)
Teen Intermediate Large Group:
- Hunger Games – Lake Area Dance Center (invited back for National Champion Large Group Dance Off in Finals)
- Velvet Rope – Lake Area Dance Center (invited back for National Champion Intermediate Division Dance of in Finals)
- Sing, Sing, Sing – South Metro Dance Academy (invited back for Teen Encore Performance in Finals)
- How Will I Know – Jamm Dance Co
- Mission Impossible – Lake Area Dance Center
We were immensely proud of all the dancers and their well-deserved recognition! However, a touch of confusion and disappointment arose when the Angels were the only group from our studio not invited back to Finals, despite sweeping their division. They weren’t selected for intermediate division, junior division, or even an encore performance. I tried to console Grace, reminding her of their impressive 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place wins in the Junior Intermediate Division and their championship status. Unfortunately, it didn’t completely alleviate her disappointment. Miss Maria, in a supportive email that evening, reassured everyone that the Angels’ results were crucial to the studio’s overall success, regardless of the Finals invitation, and expressed her immense pride in everyone’s hard work. Reading this message to Grace provided some comfort and perspective.
Grand Finale: Finals
Saturday was Finals day. Although Grace wasn’t performing, we returned to cheer on our teammates and, importantly, to avoid missing the announcement of Lake Area Dance potentially being named Intermediate Studio of the Year again, as we had last year.
Despite her earlier disappointment, Grace was excited for an afternoon filled with exceptional dances. We were particularly looking forward to the Opening Number, the Parade of Stars, featuring three Lake Area Dancers. It was absolutely spectacular!
Dancers performing in the Parade of Stars, a highlight of the dance competition finals.
Our high expectations for an amazing show were not only met but exceeded. Highlights included the Sparkles (8-10 year olds) WINNING the Petite Encore Award, the Dreamlites (our teen group) WINNING the National Champion Large Group Dance Off, a choreography award for “Hunger Games” (congratulations, Mike Dietz!), and the pinnacle – Lake Area Dance being crowned Intermediate Studio of the Year! Words can hardly express the overwhelming excitement surrounding this prestigious title. We are incredibly proud to be part of such an outstanding studio, shining brightly in this spotlight dance competition!
