by Jeanni Ritchie
I knew all those episodes of Dance Moms would pay off one day! Arriving at Cindy Seaton Dance Academy’s Competition Team Showcase, The Distinction, I felt like a judge at one of the end-of-episode competitions. I knew solos, duos, trios, and group numbers. I knew lyrical vs. acro vs. hip-hop vs. jazz.
I still don’t understand all the things Abby Lee Miller would fuss about. I simply see dancers with heart and enthusiasm performing beautiful routines. I could never be a judge. They’d all take 1st place!
Besides, I have two left feet. How in the world could I ever judge technique?!
I did pick my favorite numbers, with no rhyme nor reason. I simply liked what I liked, falling in love with the youngest group, their enthusiasm leading me to publicly announce during the break that I needed a playdate pronto! Their spirits were soaring on that stage.
This group also took my top prize for best costumes, both in Sucker for You and Girl Scouts.
Lighting up the stage in Sucker for You and making me wish I was 7 again were London Bermea, Alaina Desadier, Keilse Fegans, Grace Hooter, Josiee Thornton, and Lizzie Williamson.
Stealing my heart in Guiding Light were Bermea, Williamson, and Andie Claire Harris.
Showing why Cindy Seaton Dance Academy had been awarded the title of Studio of Excellence were several solo performances. Ava Claire Cotten had me so mesmerized in Voltage from start to finish that I forgot to take a single photo of her number!
She also won the Most Improved Award, being described as the “Swiss army knife of the studio, ready to do whatever she was asked to” in her dances. Her facials were always on point!
Evangeline McDaniel danced a beautiful solo to The Climb, Kameron Hunter wowed in For All We Know, Josiee Thornton gave us a New Start, and Paislee Watts performed a stunning routine to Voila.
Other incredible solos were performed by Sanaa Simmons (Amen), Kennedy Johnson (Faun), Kylee Dupree (Say a Little Prayer), Ralyn Smith (Enchantress), Caris Clement (Something Like This) and Ennslee Poole dancing to a haunting rendition of Pure Imagination from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Another really cool rendition was Walking on Sunshine. Stripped down from its usual catch bubble-gum pop, the melancholy song was the perfect vehicle for Olivia Beaman, Cotten, Harris, Allie McCoy, McDaniel, Poole, Smith, Annalise Thiels, and Thornton in their bright yellow costumes.
My favorite duo, This Place is a Shelter, was performed by Kylie Dupree and Annalynn DeBusk. Caris Clement and Kennedy Johnson also performed a beautiful duet to Hourglass.
The song with the most energy tied into a beloved classic was Love Shack and was performed by Cotten, Alexis Foster, Harris, McCoy, McDaniel, Poole, and Thornton.
Assistant Director Emanuel Washington awarded the prize for Dancer of the Year to Caris Clement who wowed in group numbers like Butterfly and N’Insiste Pas.
Owner and Competition Team Director Cindy Seaton awarded the Dance Parent of the Year award to Lisa Thiels, mother of Annalise.
The parents then surprised Seaton and Washington with their own award and a token of appreciation for all they’ve done for their children.
With all these awards being handed out, I decided I’d declare my own award, the Maddie Ziegler prize, to the dancer you couldn’t help but gravitate toward in the group number. That little showstopper was Josiee Thornton!
I’d just about had all my favorite numbers and costumes locked up when the dancers hit their first marks of the show-stopping finale, So Chic. The rousing number had me and my two left feet wanting to jump onstage and join them! It was another favorite and judging by the raucous applause, the crowd agreed.
What a fabulous showcase!
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
