By Paula Green
A group of local dancers from Evolve Dance Complex in Cranberry Township recently garnered first place honors in a national competition. Top honors were bestowed during The Dance Awards (TDA). According to one of Evolve's owners, Jennifer Sebes, "This competition is the Academy Awards of Dance!"
Evolve’s Junior Small Contemporary group were the winners. “What was so exciting is that this small but mighty group won against extended lines, some having more than 20 dancers, and these were top studios in the country. There were over 130 junior groups in the division. The winning dance called, The Others was choreographed by Chelsea Sebes, Evolve Dance Complex's Choreographer and Artistic Director. Six dancers ranging between the age of 10 and 14 are Cameron Voorhees, Elyse Wingertsahn, Camryn Lanigan, Ava Carroll, Bella Rose Penrose, and Kensington Dressing,” said Jennifer.
"Evolve Dance Complex also had several other top awards in the mini, junior and teen levels, but our junior group took 1st place in Junior Performance Award-winning $1,000. To win this prestigious award was one of the greatest moments for our studio, and a true testimony to the dancers and teacher's work ethic, talent and passion for dance," Jennifer said.
This dance contest is enormous. "The Dance Awards is a national dance convention and competition held annually in Las Vegas and Orlando. Dancers between the ages of five through 19 are awarded to recognize excellence in dance. TDA is widely regarded as the most prestigious award presented for dance in the U.S. and is considered to be one of the toughest competitions internationally for young pre-professional dancers. It is a convention-based competition, so from September thru June, dancers attend regional convention competitions throughout the country. They take convention dance classes from an amazing faculty of choreographers/instructors during the weekend, many of whom are Emmy Award-winning choreographers. Then they compete with typically the same high-level choreographers and instructors as their judges," said Jennifer.
"Evolve Dance Complex is a mom and daughter operation. I was a dancer for many years in upstate New York before sustaining an injury in my teens. Chelsea began dancing at the age of three and continued to be a high-level competition dancer and then continued dancing at Ohio University and La Roche College. We opened in 2011 with just a 1,000-square-foot space and a small dividing wall separating two dance spaces in La Salle Plaza Cranberry Twp. Since then, we have evolved into three dance spaces and 5,000 square foot space. We offer recreational classes as well as two competition levels of dance. Our award-winning and nationally recognized faculty is truly what makes evolve so special. They are committed to their craft and helping dancers reach their greatest potential, regardless of their level. For more info, visit www.evolvedancecomplex.com/.
Northern Connection magazine congratulates Evolve Dance Complex on their first-place national honor!