Hollywood Experience for Donna Mueller's dancers

The Pizazz Competition Troupe from Donna Mueller’s School of Dance recently attended Michael McBain’s “Hollywood Dance Experience” dance convention in Oak Brook.

This two day event provides young dancers with the opportunity to study and talk with Hollywood’s finest choreographers such as Jason Myhre, who works with Rihanna and Shakira, Melissa Snow, a principal dancer with Disney, and Nick Long, who has been featured on “America’s Best Dance Crew” television show. Michael McBain himself was the personal choreographer to Donald O’Connor and has appeared on the Carol Burnett show.

During the convention the dancers took classes for dance technique in all levels including jazz progressions, how to audition, leaps and turns, floor work, how to perform and ‘co-star’ classes. At the end of the first day a competition was held with the following winning awards:

Platinum: “Rock This Town” Teen Tap Line; “Wish” Junior Ballet Solo, Bailey Severson; “Play It Cool” Junior Tap Duet, Kimberly Feiden and Jacie Punke; “It’s Raining Men” Senior Jazz Small Group; “Shakin” Senior Jazz Solo, Carson Shannon; “Dream On” Senior Jazz Solo, Jenna Simotes; “Golden Slumber” Senior Lyrical Duet, Karys Olsen and Jenna Simotes;

Gold: “This Old House” Junior Tap Solo, Mary Ruff; “Strut” Junior Jazz Group; “I Enjoy Being A Girl” Junior Tap Solo, Mara Punke; “Crazy Little Thing” Junior Tap Solo, Kimberly Feiden; “The Mood” Junior Tap Solo, Hattie Burciaga; “Rock a Beatin Boogie” Teen Tap Duet, Carrington Herman and Peighton Shannon; “Wild Child” Teen Jazz Duet, Kylie Severson and Ashley Gibson; “Teach Me How To Shimmy” Teen Tap Duet, Kelsey Feiden and Hattie Burciaga; “Anyway” Senior Lyrical Solo, Kelsey Kunz; “Fire” Teen Jazz Line; “Here’s Johnny” Senior Tap Duet, Kelsey Feiden and Carson Shannon; “Distortion” Senior Jazz Solo, Becca McNelis;

Silver: “Mambo #5” Junior Jazz Line; “Darkside” Senior Jazz Line.

Special awards were presented by the judges which included the “Directors Award” given to Bailey Severson for her Junior Ballet Solo “Wish” and the “Judges Award” given to the Senior Jazz Small Group “It’s Raining Men” dancers included Jenna Simotes, Becca McNelis, Carson Shannon, Delaney Murphy and Caroline Riccolo.

Audition Scholarships were awarded to Brenna Feeney, Hattie Burciaga and Caroline Riccolo. Karys Olsen was presented with the “Intermediate Dancer of the Weekend."

Donna Mueller’s School Dance is located at 114 1/2 W. Washington St., Morris. For more information visit the web at www.donnamuellersschoolofdance.com or call the studio 815-942-6141. The Pizazz Dance Competition Troupe has been two time winners of “Dance Olympus Grand National Champions.”