Torrington, WY February 19th, 2024 — The 28th Avenue Dance Studio has been preparing for regional dance competitions for the past several months. You may support 28th Avenue Dance Studio’s Company Stars as they prepare for dance competitions by attending the Company Stars Dance Concert on Saturday, February 24th . The concert will begin at 2:00 pm and will be held in the Torrington High School Auditorium. Proceeds will go towards dancers’ competition fees. The concert will run approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Admission is $7.00 for both adults and students–free for kids under 5. You will have the opportunity to watch soloists, duos, and groups perform onstage! Groups include Petite, Junior, Teen, and Senior Companies. This concert is a great opportunity for dancers to not only raise funds, but practice performing onstage in front of an audience before attending competitions. The group dances will be performed at the dance studio’s annual recital April 26th and 27th . However, this will be your only chance to see the majority of the solos and duos being performed.
“The Company Stars Concert not only showcases our dedication and hard work but also serves as a platform to uplift and entertain the community. It fosters unity and brings joy to our audience, making it a truly enriching experience for everyone involved,” said Alyssa Shade.
Brie Wolfe added, “Having the concert shows the community our hard work that we put into our dances and the dancers also feel supported by the community to do well at competitions.”
Dancers performing as the Petite Company include Aspyn Aragon, Peyton Burlington, Evie Courtney, Kaidence Fisher, Melissa Graham-Brown, Berklee Kistler, Alexis Martin, and Caislyn Ogburn. The Junior Company consists of Sophia Emigh, Teagan Muilenburg, Kambry Novotny, Kelsey Otten, Mallory Roth, Sarah Snarr, Star Weglin-Kelley, and Sadie Mae Winebrenner. Dancers in the Teen Company include Sophie Barker, Elanor Cross, Paizley Ewald, Payton Matthews, Halle Oestman, and Madison Solberg. Senior Company members include Madyson Banister, Madyn Clarke, Avery Firkins, Tessa Larkin, Rosa Munoz, Alyssa Shade, Tashara Sinner, and Briella Wolfe. Additional 28th Avenue Dance Studio students who have chosen to compete with solos this season include Taelor Cushman, Seana Li, Nora Jespersen and Trinity Martin. Choreographers and Instructors of the companies are Stephanie Kath, Taylor Bartel, and Natalie Davila. Company dancers also take additional classes at 28th Avenue Dance Studio from Instructors Kathleen Snarr and Melanie Wolfe.
“Dance competitions offer a thrilling opportunity to challenge myself, grow as a performer, and push the boundaries of my abilities. The adrenaline rush on stage coupled with the supportive atmosphere among competitors makes each competition an unforgettable journey of self-discovery and achievement” said Shade.
Tessa Larkin said, “I love being a Company Stars member because it is comforting to know that I have a “family” that shares my passion for dance, and that we can all be together and be ourselves without judgement.”
Shade added, “As a Company Stars member, I cherish the sense of family within our dance community. It’s inspiring to collaborate with talented individuals who share the same passion for dance.”
Dancers audition each May for 28th Avenue Dance Studio’s competitive teams “Company Stars.” The dancers are asked to demonstrate certain technical skills and are taught a short combination of
choreography. Instructors are looking at dancers’ ability to learn new dance movement and choreography. They are also looking at dance class etiquette, work ethic and the ability to work well with a team of dancers. 28th Avenue Dance Studio began attending dance competitions in its early years, many of which were originally held in Casper. In 2021, Company Stars was added to the studio as an intensive program for dancers interested in performing and competing. This year, dancers will attend one competition in Colorado and one in Wyoming. Students are required to take a weekly technique class at the studio in addition to their company class. This assures that the students are receiving a quality dance education in order to perform choreography to their best ability. This also helps provide structure and teaches accountability for not only each individual, but also the team.
Madyson Banister said, “Dance is a very beneficial activity for your health. It can help you grow and learn in so many different ways. That’s one thing I absolutely love about dance.”
