LIHU’E — Tiffany Dick of Aloha Dance Studio was over the moon with her students’ accomplishments.
The studio’s elite team, including Madison Allado-Racca, Caitlin Plowman, Keisha Suga, Jaslen and Maia Valdez, won a gold medal and third place in the category for their jazz routine. The Elite team also landed a gold medal in their hip hop routine at the JUMP Dance convention and competition in O’ahu.
“There were over 500 students from Hawai’i and the United States,” Dick said. “We are so proud of our senior and elite teams.”
In addition to the tag team competition, Plowman and Valdez combined in the junior duo division to win gold and first place in the category. Plowman went on to win a Grand Gold Medal for his Jazz Solo Routine, and Suga finished with a Grand Gold Medal for his Contemporary Solo.
The senior team, including members Isabella Andres, Hailee Omi, Emily Racpan, Erin Allana Teves and Xyleiah Valdez, finished the weekend with a gold medal for the team’s jazz routine.
Additionally, Teves won gold for his lyrical solo.
“We at Aloha Dance Studio are so proud of all their hard work and dedication,” Dick said. “We are also proud of our Junior and Mini companies for working hard all weekend in all of their workshop classes which were held Saturday and Sunday for five hours each day.”
Dick said that in addition to the competition, members of Aloha Dance Studio got scholarships for each style, and Plowman, the winner of the VIP scholarship, had to go through an audition process to be narrowed down to the top. 20 of his class.
Plowman, with the scholarship, has the opportunity to go to nationals and attend the workshop for free. She also wins a free scholarship to next year’s JUMP.
Kalahua Preston-Brown was awarded a ballet scholarship and a You Rock award for ballet which is awarded to a single student in the all-ages category.
Other scholarship winners included Shalyn Vegas for jazz, contemporary and lyrical, Alexsandra Renaud for ballet and Jazzmine McGlaughlin for tap.
Kaua’i has the opportunity to see these dancers live when performers from Aloha Dance Studio take the stage in the Kukui Grove Center food court this Saturday, June 4 starting at 5 p.m.
Additionally, Aloha Dance Studios is hosting their recital on Sunday, June 12 starting at 2 p.m. at the Kaua’i War Memorial Convention Hall. There is a $15 admission fee in advance, $20 at the door. Tickets are available at Aloha Dance Studios’ main location behind The Home Depot, or its Kukui Grove location adjacent to Macy’s, starting this week.
w Info: alohadancestudio.com
•••
Denis Fujimotowriter and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.