In 2019, the Power Of Dance Senior All Stars made history in a number of ways. That year, they had two Senior Teams who both received bids to the USASF (United States All Star Federation) Dance Worlds in Orlando Florida. Four of those bids were partial paid bids, which not only meant the team earned partial scholarships to compete but that they were top 10 favorites in 4 categories.
That year, they came home with a Gold Medal in Senior Small Coed Hip Hop, a Silver Medal in Open Kick, and a Bronze in Senior Large Pom. It was an incredible accomplishment that would be hard to beat. Last year, the team earned 3 partial paid bids (4 bids total) but was unable to compete as the Dance Worlds was cancelled due to Covid-19.
This year, the 2021 team is back and ready to defend their title along with being the first team in USASF history to earn five partial paid bids in five different styles of dance. “To really understand this accomplishment, people need to understand how rare it is to have an athlete even competing in five totally different styles of dance in the first place — let alone be top ten favorites. That would be like someone qualifying for the Olympics in the 200 meters, the 400 hurdles, long jump, 1500 meters, and the javelin throw. Sure there’s overlap but to be a favorite in all of them?” says coach Powers.
The team has been awarded the highest score of all Senior & Open teams at three competitions this year – in three different styles of dance. All of their choreography and music mixing is done in-house by Theresa Perenick, Elizabeth Powers, and Jackson Powers — which is also a pretty unique achievement. “Besides being amazing kids, this group has a combined GPA of 3.8. Almost all of them are teaching, working or student helping the younger groups at the studio and 4 of the kids are on working scholarships to help pay for dance.” Since many of these dancers have been together since elementary school — and a few since pre-school — this is more than a team. It is truly a family.
“This team, and all our teams really, are successful because they put the team first, they always strive to be better than yesterday, and they are committed to a common goal.” The 2021 Dance Worlds will take place at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex on May 6th and 7th. The Power Of Dance Worlds Teams will compete in the following categories: Senior Large Pom, Senior Large Co-ed Hip Hop, Senior Large Contemporary/Lyrical, Senior Large Jazz, and Open Kick.
The team consists of the following dancers — Kira Anderson (Pulaski), Madison Beres, Athena Petty (Green Bay), Madylin Butler, Sophia De Caster, Kenzington Gillis, Jenna Lyons, Grace Marek, Ava Mattson, Chloe McCourt, Navya Munagala, Kennedy Nolle, Jaden Powers, Nicholas Powers, Brianna Ruby, Julia Sheahan, Olivia Stedl, Claire Vanden Heuvel, Lainey Wight, Olivia Wilson (Howard-Suamico).
The team is coached by Theresa Perenick and Elizabeth Powers with technique coaches Tanya Robinson and Tracy Mozingo. The Power Of Dance has competition teams for all ability levels starting at age four. For additional information on Power Of Dance, visit their website at www.powerofdance.com or call the studio at (920) 661-9212.
