by Sam Tripp

Dancers from Jan’s School of Dance, Inc. shook off two years of dust from their dancing shoes to put on a dazzling debut performance for the judges at the Hall Of Fame Dance Competition held recently at St. Paul “River Center”.

The dancers, sidelined from competition last year due to COVID, came out strong and posted 18 platinum, 26 high gold and 10 judges choice awards.

The Ruby and Blue lines strutted their stuff with platinum in lyrical and clogging and high gold in jazz. Their clogging routine won a special judges award for “Fabulous Feet”.

Gem jazz, Turquoise clog and Teen lyrical also performed in brilliant fashion by taking home platinum awards in each of their performances.

The Diamond line captured a platinum and Judges Choice Award in clogging and combined with the Turquoise line to capture a high gold in jazz.

The Silver line captured a high gold in jazz and a platinum and Judges Choice Award for “Precision” in their clogging routine.

The younger lines showed no fear of the huge River Center stage by performing well in their routines. Coral jazz and clogging won high gold for their routines, with the Purple line following suit in their jazz and clogging performance.

The Emerald line also captured a high gold in jazz and clogging.

Copper clog, though shorthanded, rose to the occasion to post a platinum to “Ain’t going Down”.

In the specialty routines, the Novelty routine “Frozen” captured a Judges Choice Award for “Personality Plus” while “The Greatest Showman” took home platinum honors.

In Hip Hop, hip hop 3 earned a high gold, as did hip hop 2, while the upstart hip hop 1 rookies won the “Entertainment” award from the judges.

In Contemporary, contemporary 1 and 2 earned high gold awards, while the senior group of contemporary 3 won a platinum and special acclaim from the judges for “Commitment” to their performance.

Rounding out the group performances, Mini lyrical and Junior lyrical took home high gold honors while the Irish Super Clog number, “Cry of the Celts”, took home platinum. In Individual Competition: The trio of Molly Barker, Nathan Barker and Xavier Beal won high gold in hip hop, while the trio of Cate Pottinger, Autumn Keller and Mekede Radiate danced beautifully in “Waves” to earn a platinum award.

In the duet category, Jessica Geerdes and Alex Talley won a high gold in clogging, while Reese Kuglin and Hailey Sherry took home high gold in lyrical. In the final duet performance, Nathan Barker and Xavier Beal won high gold and the “Intensity” award from the judges.

In the solo category, Brailyn Gintner, Amber Puckett, Londyn Overlander and Jessica Geerdes earned high gold awards. Paige Lunsford, Cate Pottinger, Mekede Radiate, Molly Barker, Brenna Rowe and Amber Puckett earned platinum for their efforts. Judges’ choice awards also went to Lunsford, Barker, and Radiate.

Studio Director Jan Tripp was very pleased with the dancers’ performances and the staff of Hall Of Fame and River Center for their details to the safety of the dancers and their parents.

Diamond Clog – “Upper Mississippi Shakedown” – Fabulous Feet Award Back Row: Maddy Elliott, Macy Dayton, Zoe O’Donnell, Calia Story, Miley Pagel, Kaitlyn Boyd Middle Row: Lyla Mahoney, Elle Endres, Layla Tuin, Haylee Newton, Isabel Miller, Taylor Dodge Front Row:Lillyan Schweich, Jaidyn Johnson, Hanah Precious, MaKenzee Virchow. Photo submitted

Silver Clog – “Honey, I’m Good” – Precision Award – photo credit to Mac MaGoon Studio (Alphabetical) Avery Courneya, Parker Elliott, Lia Ferguson, Brooke Gjemse, Bella Heiman, Vivian Hill, Jocelyn Huebsch, Lydia Latch, Lyla Rae Likes, Elise Mattimiro, Delaney McGraw, Taylor Schulte, Leighton Siebenaler Photo by by Mac McGoon Studio

Coral Clog – “Nothing to Lose” – High Score Award Back row, L to R: Carlie Gintner, Brianna Kummer, Addy Bauer, Adyson Ruiz, Courtney Siebenaler, Grace Rotty Front row, L to R: Abby Mudgett, Addison Notch, Macy Kirk, Avery Miller, Isabel Whipple.

Photo submitted