Local dance studio crowned senior champs at Candance event

A Sault Ste. Marie dance studio is celebrating the achievements of its members who've just returned from a competition in Huntsville.

The 2024 Candance competition featured more than 80 dancers from the Sault's Studio Dance Arts.

Competing against 12 other dance studios and over 500 routines, Studio Dance Arts won Top Pre-Competitive Team and Top Senior Team.

"The team demonstrated exceptional talent and dedication, earning multiple awards across various categories," the studio said.

The studio's annual year-end show takes place June 8-9 at the Sault Community Theatre Centre.

Find all the details in the following news release:

Studio Dance Arts is thrilled to announce the remarkable achievements of its talented dancers at the prestigious Candance Competition 2024, held at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville from April 5 to 7.

A total of 82 competitive dancers from Studio Dance Arts showcased their passion and skill, competing against over 500 entries from 13 participating studios for top honours. 

The team demonstrated exceptional talent and dedication, earning multiple awards across various categories.

The results for Studio Dance Arts dancers are as follows:

OVERALLS TOP 10

Novice Mini/Junior Soloists
Charlee Mizzi: 3^rd overall

Madeline Tonon: 4^th overall

Stella Kelly: 5^th overall

Ariana Comegna: 7^th overall

Daniella Greco: 8^th overall

Novice Teen Soloists

Ava Sdao: 1^st overall

Novice Mini/Junior Duo-Trios

Down With Love (Ember Dillabough, Adelyn Juby, Madeline Tonon): 2^nd overall

Que Sera (Olivia Dias, Grace McBride, Maila Sdao): 3^rd overall

Novice Mini/Junior Small Groups

Spell On You: 2^nd overall

Lollipop: 3^rd overall

Pre-Competitive Mini Lines

Spoonful of Sugar: 1^st overall

Sea Cruise: 2^nd overall

Going To The Chapel: 3^rd overall

Competitive Junior Soloists
Amia Guzzo: 6^th overall, and 5^th Runner Up Junior Miss Candance
Samantha Pavoni: 8^th overall, Tap Workshop Scholarship winner, and 7^th Runner Up Junior Miss Candance

Competitive Teen Soloists
Teija Lappalainen: 6^th overall, and 5^th Runner Up Teen Miss Candance
Aliyah Flammia: Soul Convention Scholarship winner

Competitive Senior Soloists
Mitchel Hopf: 4^th overall, and Senior Mr. Candance Winner

Alexis Guzzo: 7^th overall, and 4^th Runner Up Senior Miss Candance

Kirsten Dubien: 8^th overall, and 5^th Runner Up Senior Miss Candance

Shannon Solomon: ADAPT Teacher Scholarship winner
Sophie Flammia: ADAPT Teacher Assistant Scholarship winner

Competitive Mini Small Groups

Walking Papers: 3^rd overall

Competitive Mini Lines

Sing Sing Sing: 1^st overall

Welcome To Havana: 2^nd overall

Competitive Junior Large Groups

On Broadway: 1^st overall

Competitive Junior Lines

Destiny Remix: 1^st overall

Competitive Teen Small Groups

Americano: 1^st overall

Chicago: 2^nd overall

Competitive Teen Large Groups

Sully’s Song: 3^rd overall

Competitive Teen Lines

Piano Man: 1^st overall

Competitive Senior Small Groups

Hallelujah: 1^st overall

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: 2^nd overall

Competitive Senior Large Groups

Stuck In The Middle: 1^st overall

Toxic: 2^nd overall

Competitive Senior Lines

Lola: 1^st overall

I Have Been A Fire: 2^nd overall

SPECIAL AWARDS

Pre-Competitive Highest Scoring Group

Spoonful of Sugar

Epic Awards (Top Score In Each Dance Style)

Top Jazz: Lola

Top Tap: Sully’s Song

Top Lyrical: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Top Open: Piano Man

People’s Choice Award (12yrs & Under)

Americano

Judges Choice Award (13yrs & Over)

Lola

Joe Noce Memorial Award For Entertainment

Sully’s Song

GRAND FINALS DANCE-OFF

The top 3 scoring groups from each studio who received a Diamond score (95+ average from all 3 judges),
re-competes on the last day of the event at the Diamond Dance-Off. The winners were:

Junior Diamond Dance-Off (12yrs & Under)

3^rd place: Destiny Remix

Senior Diamond Dance-Off (13yrs & Over)

Winner: Piano Man

A huge congratulations and thank you to the exceptional teamwork of our dancers, parents, costumers, guest-artists, and SDA teacher/choreographers, including Tania Castellani-Greco, Kim Greco, Pam Robins, Cassandra Lepore, Hannah Egerland, Daniella Rossi, and Alexis Guzzo. The hard work, dedication, and pursuit of excellence has been incredible so far this season. We really do have an extraordinary team,” says studio owner/director Richard Kim.

With the recent announcement of another local studio Soo Dance Unlimited closing after 30 years, and merging with Studio Dance Arts, the school is excited to introduce a new and exciting Pre-Competitive stream of study for the 2024-2025 dance season, as well as expand on its Recreational and Adult program offerings.

Studio Dance Arts year end show runs June 8-9, 2024 at the Sault Community Theatre Centre. Tickets go on sale at the Station Mall Box Office starting May 4.

With 21 years of serving the community and 3 studio locations in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., Marquette, Mich., and Munising, Mich., Studio Dance Arts continues to be a leading provider of dance education for the beginner to advanced level dance student.

For more information about Studio Dance Arts and upcoming Summer and Fall programs, please visit www.studiodancearts.com or email: [email protected]