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Press Release

All That Dance The Judges Choice

            (Flagstaff, Arizona, February 2, 2010)—All That Dance once again, swept the competition this past weekend at the regional Spotlight Dance Cup competition in Phoenix, AZ.  Spotlight awarded All That Dance with three first place age winner awards (one for each group that competed) along with two Judge’s Choice awards.   Our local dancers competed against dozens of dance studios from around the state.  All three groups, Company, Jr. & Sr. Hip Hop teams qualified to compete at the National Championships this summer in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

            For the fifth year in a row, the Hip Hop teams reigned supreme in hip hop.  Jr. Hip Hop team won first place for their age and a Ruby award for their dance, “Fashion” and placed fourth overall in the group’s division.  Sr. Hip Hop team won a first place in their age division, the coveted Diamond award with a dance to “Move” and placed 3rd Overall in the group’s division.  The combined hip hop teams won another Diamond award with a dance to “Dangerous” and also placed 2nd Overall in the group’s division.  The overall trophy is determined by scores from teams that competed in jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop, lyrical or musical theater.  All That Dance’s Company won their age division,  a Ruby award in jazz and placed 3rd Overall in the duet/trio division with their dance to “Ruby Blue”.  The Diamond award is the highest award given in any category, like a gold medal at the Olympics.  The Ruby award is the equivalent to a Silver Medal. 

 “The Judge’s Choice awards were really meaningful to us,” stated studio owner, Rhonda Harris.  The Jr. Hip Hop team was called out by the judges for being a dance that was “rehearsal ready.”  This was stated by one of the judges, as she gave the award to Jr. Hip Hop team member, Monica Algya.  The judge claimed that this dance proves that “practice makes perfect.”  The Sr. Hip Hop team also won a Judge’s Choice award for “leaving the judges wanting more.”  Senior team member and a senior at FALA, Sharilyn Scott, who has been on the hip hop team for the past four years, stated, “this is the best prepared we’ve ever been,”  going into a dance competition,  “I really felt relaxed and confident.” 

Junior company dancers are Naomi Francis, Roxie Nebel and Bethany Osorio. Jr. Hip Hop team members are Monica Algya, Kayla Biro, Claudia Carter, Jessi Ramsey, Eva Ramirez and Samantha Wesche.  Sr. Hip Hop team members are Ashley Christopher, Shea James, Alyssa Livingston, Angelica McCulloch, Nick Reynolds, Sarah Salmon, Sharilyn Scott and Lindsey Smith

            What makes this little studio from Flagstaff such a competitor against bigger studios in the Metro areas of Phoenix and Tucson?  One thing is consistency.  The dancers and the teachers strive for perfection each and every class.  “We spend a lot of time in class breaking down the steps, then rehearsing the dance over and over until it’s perfect” states Mica Arellano, one of the team’s choreographers. 

            It’s especially challenging because our local dancers don’t train every day.  As hip hop team members they are required to take the hip hop team class once a week with their fellow members, one other dance class that is not hip hop and rehearse every other Thursday.  “I require them to take another discipline of dance that is not hip hop because this makes them a more rounded dancer with better technique,” says Rhonda Harris.  Company dancers are required to take company ballet and jazz dance class once a week and rehearse every other week too.

            Another difference that the studio really strives for is age appropriate dancing, costuming and music.  “There is so much pressure for little girls to grow up quickly in this society, that I feel it’s important that little girls should look like little girls and dance like little girls,” says Rhonda.  We consistently score well in that respect because, “I refuse to put our dancers out there in skimpy costumes with risqué dance movements.” 

            A parent of one of the hip hop team members stated that “our entire family is so pleased with the way you (Rhonda) run your studio.  It's been the best youth activity any of our kids have been involved with in the 7 years we have lived in Flagstaff, (and with 2 boys and 2 girls there has been a lot).  I really appreciate the standards you constantly strive for in the kids dancing and especially with monitoring the girl’s outfits, making sure they are modest,” quoted Mike Livingston.

            It makes it even more challenging to find good, clean hip hop music to use.   This year the teams focused on having a theme to connect all of their hip hop music.  The Jr. Hip Hop team went with a theme of fashion, shopping and little divas using one of Lady Gaga’s songs, “Fashion” from the movie, “Confessions of a Shopaholic.” The audience really liked Sr. Hip Hop team’s dance.  “We started with the theme song from the 70’s sitcom the Jeffersons, “Moving on up” and that really got the audience going,” said Mica Arellano. 

            Competing is not the only thing that these teams do.  Each member is required to attend a dance workshop in the fall, perform in scheduled events around town, participate in fundraisers and eventually go to competition.  Out of the over 200 dancers at All That Dance, only 17 dancers choose to take part in this.  Dancers must audition for the company and hip hop teams in the summer.  Being a member of company or hip hop team is a huge commitment of time and money.  On the Sr. Hip Hop team, there are two dancers who also play high school soccer.  Sr. team member, Sarah Salmon, also dances on her dance team at Flagstaff High School. 

            Hip Hop team members went to Monsters of Hip Hop earlier this year in Phoenix, AZ.  There they had the opportunity to train from such well known hip hop choreographers as Dave Scott, Marty Kudelka and Rhapsody.  Company dancers attended a dance workshop in December in Phoenix, AZ with well known tap dancer, Greg Russell and ballet teacher phenomenon, Judy Rice.  Some dancers from the studio even traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada in November to take classes from Mia Michaels and Wade Robson. 

            The groups also performed each month last semester to better prepare themselves for this year’s competition at Ponderosa Pines, Thorpe Park Adult Center, Club 4Twelve and at NAU basketball halftimes.  “Our kids really look forward to these events,” states company dance teacher, Sarah Vendsel.  “The more opportunities they get to be in front of someone else besides me, the better they do.” 

            These award winning groups will be featured in our seventh annual recital titled, “Deca-Dance” on May 22nd at Sinagua High School.  Tickets go on sale in April.  For those who would like to become a member of the dance company and/or hip hop team, auditions will be held in August.  For more information on performances, auditions or summer dance classes, please contact Rhonda Harris at All That Dance.  You may call (928) 714-9300 or visit our website:  www.allthatdancesite.com

Contact Us:

Rhonda Harris: allthatdance@qwestoffice.net

Studio Phone: (928) 714-9300 Address: 5200 E. Cortland Blvd Ste A9  Flagstaff,   AZ 86004