Artistry in Motion dancers take top honors at DanceAmerica 2013
Artistry in Motion, the in-house dance company of the Des Plaines Park District, took home top honors at DanceAmerica 2013, February 15 and 16, at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora. The Company dancers earned twelve First Place, nine Second Place, four Third Place, three Fourth Place, three Fifth Place, and four Merit Awards, out of the 402 dances entered. Four hundred and two routines competed from studios in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, and Canada. All thirty-five Artistry in Motion performances also qualified for the DanceAmerica 2013 National Championships scheduled for July 1-5 in Schaumburg, Illinois.
Earning first place awards were: Bridget Donovan, “Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend,” Intermediate Solo Musical Theatre, choreography: Mary Williams; Mathew Skorupski, “The Remedy,” Intermediate Solo Male Tap, choreography: Rich Ashworth; Meghan Hanrahan and Kim Diebold, “You'll Find a Way,” Intermediate Duo/Trio Open, choreography: Williams; Donovan, Jackie Rentner, Madison Rentner, Rosie Kurutz, Lynn Faye Anama, Jackie Chiakas, Sammy Kedziora, and Ella Kurutz, “Hide and Seek,” Junior Large Group Open, choreography: Cecilia Ferguson-Bell; Jordin Suwalski, R. Kurutz, M. Rentner, Suzy Linek, Tess Wastyn, Lyris Daker, Kim Fairhead, Natalia Stephens, “Top of the World,” Junior Large Group Modern, choreography: Anne Gollenberg; R. Kurutz, “Second Hand Rose,” Primary Solo Musical Theatre, choreography: Laura Chiuve; Suwalski, for her Modern Solo, “Lionheart,” choreography: Ferguson-Bell and her Lyrical Solo, “Will You Be There,” choreography: Chiuve; Suwalski also won Best Emotional Execution in the Primary/Junior Division for “Will You Be There;” Hanrahan and Suwalski, “Arms,” Junior Duo/Trio Lyrical, Kim Diebold: student choreographer; Diebold, Hanrahan, Georgina Genovese, Megan Swanson, and Jackie Rentner, “Don Quixote,” Intermediate Small Group Ballet, choreography: Ferguson-Bell; Suwalski and R. Kurutz, “My Momma Told Me,” Primary Duo/Trio Jazz, choreography: Chiuve; and the entire Artistry Company for “The Suburbs,” Intermediate Production Open, choreography: Ferguson-Bell.
Eight dancers qualified for the Dancer of the Year Semi-finals including R. Kurutz, Suwalski, M. Rentner, Donovan, Skorupski, E. Kurutz, and Swanson. They will compete for the Junior Dancer of the Year title at the DanceAmerica Nationals this July. Meghan Hanrahan also performed a Showcase Solo as the reigning 2012 Junior Dancer of the Year: Hyperballad, choreographed by Jamie Salas.
Diebold was named Young Choreographer, competing against eight other dances for the title. The Young Choreographer competition is open to any dancer, 15 years of age or older. She will go on to compete at Nationals against all the other regional Young Choreographer winners this summer.
Overall High Scores were awarded to Mathew Skorupski for his Intermediate/Senior Male Solo; Suwalski for “Will You Be There,” First Runner-up Overall High Score Primary/Junior Female Solo; Hanrahan and Diebold, Second Runner-up Overall High Score Intermediate/Senior Duo/Trio; Hanrahan and Suwalski, Second Runner-up Overall High Score Primary/Junior Duo/Trio; “Hide and Seek” was awarded Best Choreography in the Primary/Junior Division, and the entire Artistry Company was the First Runner-up Overall High Score Production out of 10 productions.
“This was the largest DanceAmerica regional competition ever. In preparation for this event, the dancers have concentrated on their technique and emotional execution. Through hours of practice, they have connected with their music and performed like young professionals. We could not be more proud,” said Chiuve.
Artistry in Motion will perform in their annual Spring into Motion Dance Showcase on April 12 and 13 at the Prairie Lakes Theatre. Tickets are on sale March 19 at the Administrative and Leisure Center.