Winning in All the Right Ways at MADM Competition!

Our dance company has been hard at work training in their weekly core classes and rehearsing on the weekends learning new choreography for the performance season. DE’s company is comprised of 45 dancers ages 9-17 yrs old, who are committed to their dance training throughout the week and have auditioned and been accepted into either our Rising Stars, Sparkling Stars, Jr Dance Company, or Sr Dance Company.

After all their hard work and many hours of practice, the company dancers were ready to take the stage!. On March 18th and 19th our company members and their families, traveled to Front Royal Virginia to showcase their dances at the Mid- Atlantic Dance Master’s Chapter 17 Preforming Arts Competition. MADM Chapter 17 is affiliated with Dance Masters of America, Inc. and is comprised of dance educators in Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, Delaware, and Pennsylvania.

Dance Expressions entered 16 different dances into the competition including 5 large group numbers, 6 small group numbers, and 5 solos. The dances were adjudicated by 3 professionals in the dance world and all 16 of these performances won high marks and received gold, high gold, or platinum awards. Many also won or placed in the top 10 overall scores for their division. Beyond that, many of DE’s dances were awarded Special Awards by a judge who was specifically looking for dances of high quality that stood out and above the rest for special reasons. A very small number of Best Choreography awards are given out during the competition, and Ms. Pam won three of these!

A heartfelt thanks is due to our Director Ms. Pam, our Company Director Ms. India, our Artistic Director Ms. Charlene, Rehearsal assistants Ms. Mima & Ms. Gabi, Guest Choreographer Rose Seidman and all of our DE teachers for preparing our company dancers to perform so well. Because of their dedication and inspiration, our dancers truly shined on the stage!

We are so proud of the many awards won, but we are even more proud of the Dance Expressions spirit that was on display in full force throughout the entire competition weekend. Doors of hotel rooms were decorated by “DE Fairies”, also know as super supportive Dance Company Moms. Parents donated healthy snacks and water for the dressing room, keeping dancers well fed and hydrated. Older dancers came a day earlier than they were required to just to support the younger dancers. These caring teens helped their younger teammates with their hair and make up and lead them in warming up and rehearsing before they went on stage. We are beyond proud of our dancers for the beautiful humans they are and for all of the kindness, love, and support they give each other. This sense of community and camaraderie is rare in the dance competition world and is what truly makes our DE family the best!

Congratulations to All! #WeAreDE!