Daily Herald
by Erica Warszewik

Spring training has begun for Huntley’s Center Stage Dance Academy’s Competitive Performance Dance Team. The “Batter Up” Hip Hop team wowed the judges at the Celebration Talent Competition held at the Coronado Performing Arts Center in Rockford in February.

These little league hip-hoppers range in age from 6 to 11. Not only did they pop into the High Gold award bracket, but this team won the first place overall award, the Showstopper Award which is given for routines that are especially entertaining and deserving of additional recognition, and the Entertainment Judges Choice Award. A judges’ choice award is created by the judges themselves to reward creativity, technique, style and other factors making the performance stand out above the rest.

Center Stage Dance Academy would like to highlight some of the other amazing performances from this successful competition weekend. The lyrical solo performance by their very own Miss Kara won a Platinum Award, first place overall, and a $500 scholarship for intensive training with master teachers in Los Angeles.

Miss Kara and Tyler Nowotnik, 14 won a Platinum Award, first place overall, and character award for their very entertaining music theater piece entitled “Stud and a Babe”. Lastly, CSDA is proud of Madyson Bondi, 12 in her lyrical performance entitled “Nightmare”. Her one-of-a-kind performance won High Gold and the Judges All Around Special Award for Love of Dance, Choreography, and Use of Props.

The Center Stage Dance Academy Performance Dance Team members range in age from 6 to19. The dancers perform various dance styles including groups, solos, duets, jazz, tap, lyrical, hip hop and musical theater.

For more information, contact Center Stage Dance Academy owner and artistic director, Debbie Nowotnik at (847) 669-2510 or e-mail [email protected].

Center Stage Dance Academy is committed to providing each and every dancer personalized, professional, quality dance training in a creative and fun environment.