Being successful at competitions is not something new to the Power Of Dance All-Star Teams. Over the past 12 years, POD has taken home numerous top honors at both Regional and National competitions, but this year is shaping up to be a little different.
The POD has 133 dancers in its Competitive Program – from Tiny Team (ages 4-6), Mini (ages 7-9), Youth (ages 12 and under), Junior (ages 15 and under), Senior (ages 18 and under), to Open (ages 14-adult). Dancers compete in multiple styles including Hip Hop, Pom, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Kick, and Ballet. The teams started their competition season in November with their annual Showcase benefitting the Giving Tree Food Pantry, during which they collected almost 1,500 lbs of food. The following day, the POD Senior Teams brought home two Partial-Paid bids to the Dance Worlds (Senior Pom, Senior Small Coed Hip Hop) by earning both the highest and second highest score of the day at the Nation’s Choice Dance Competition in Chicago, IL. As the year went on, the honors kept coming. By the time the teams made it to Nationals in February, first place finishes were awarded to the POD at all levels from Tiny to Open – including another Partial Paid bid to the Dance Worlds in Open Kick and two At Large Worlds bids in Senior Small Jazz, and Senior Large Lyrical/Contemporary.
In February, the POD teams attended the Dance Xtreme Americup National Dance competition in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The competition attracts some of the best teams from across the United States. Here, once again, the POD put itself on the map by earning National Titles in Tiny Hip Hop & Pom, Mini Pom, Youth Kick, Junior Kick, Senior Pom, Senior Small Hip Hop, and Open Kick. Grand Champion Titles were awarded to the POD Tiny Pom, Senior Pom, and Open Kick Teams. Additional At-Large Worlds Bids were awarded to Senior Large Jazz and Senior Small L/C. Individual honors were also earned. Kenzington Gillis (Howard-Suamico) won Junior Performer of the year for her solo performance. Kennedy Nolle (Howard-Suamico) won the Teen All American Scholarship award for her solo, transcript, interview, and essay. Jackson Powers (Howard-Suamico) won both the Senior All American Scholarship award and top honors for his Senior solo performance. Solo finalists from the Power Of Dance also included: Ava Mattson, Claire Vanden Heuvel, Kendra Garot, Sophia DeCaster (all from Howard-Suamico), and Ella Kadletz (West DePere).
Nicholas Powers (Howard-Suamico) was also a finalist for Teen All American. While all of these accolades are incredible, they are nothing compared to being awarded the highest honor of the entire competition: the Andrew Lawrence Sportsmanship Award. This honor is given to one team each year and is voted on by all other teams who are attending the competition. The teams are asked to look for a group that they feel is demonstrating good sportsmanship, fostering a positive environment, appreciation of others and acting in a way in which other dancers admire. The entire Power Of Dance Program was honored with this prestigious award for 2019.
As if this wasn’t enough, just one week after Dance Xtreme, half of the POD All-Star program attended an additional event in Chicago – Champion Spirit Group Nationals. And once again, numerous first place honors were earned. However, history was made when the POD earned two additional Partial-Paid Worlds bids in Senior Large Lyrical/Contemporary and Senior Small Lyrical/Contemporary. A total of eight Worlds bids were awarded to the POD for the 2018-2019 Season – five of them being Partial Paid.
The POD All-Stars have one more local competition coming up April 5th to 7th at Kaukuana High School. Admission to this event is free for spectators and is open to the public. The Senior and Open Teams then travel to Disney World in Orlando Florida April 25th to 29th to compete against over 40 countries at the 2019 Dance Worlds Competition.
Want to see these amazing dancers perform in person? The POD annual Spring Recital at the Meyer Theatre takes place May 3rd, 4th and 5th. Tickets go on sale April 4th through Ticket Star online or at the Meyer Theatre Box Office. Other dates coming up include Adult Urban Dance Classes open for registration now. May interim and summer class registration opens the first week in April. All-Star Team auditions are April 1st and April 8th in which one may attend either day. Summer dance camps and classes begin mid-June.
For additional information about Power of Dance, please their website at www.powerofdance.com or call the studio at (920) 661-9212.
