Myrick School of Dance performs their way to multiple wins

Myrick School of Dance recently attended Showstopper dance competition, the biggest dance competition in the country and represented Roanoke Rapids well. With over 60 dance school competing from all over the state and surrounding there were 3 dance stages competing nonstop from sun up till sun down for 3 days in Myrtle Beach, SC. Thousands of spectators and dancers watched hundreds of some of the best dancers competed in categories including Tap, Jazz, Clogging, Character Routines, Acrobatic Dance, Contemporary, Open, Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, and song and dance. Myrick School of Dance won 6 Platinum’s, 16 Gold, 3 numbers placed in the top 5, 8 numbers placed in the Top 11, and 1 number finished 1^st overall.

Winning top honors was a trio of Taylor Waters, Toni Darden and Alexis Carter winning a platinum first place and finishing 1^st overall out of all Junior (ages 9-11) Duets and Trios. The routine was a favorite at the 75^th Tapping Toes Recital and has done well all season but this is by far the best of the season. “This routine is very technical with triple Fouette’ Turns, triple Pirouette and Coupe Turns and numerous leaps and jumps so for them to win strictly with technique is amazing”, states Owner Heather Merritt, “I am pleased that the technical focus and Ballet is paying off for our girls, the teams have come a long way”. MacKenzie Moody and Kailla Warren also competed a duet, a clogging duet, to the song Good Feeling and finished 7^th overall in the division. Placing in the overall is such an amazing accomplishment and having both of those routines finish in the overall is fantastic. Myrick School of Dance is proud of all of these girls.

Taylor Waters and Toni Darden, both 12 competed solos and won Platinum first place and placed in the overall in the Teen category (12-14 year olds). Taylor Waters competed a character routine to the song Don’t rain on my parade and finished 3^rd overall. The routine was very technical and Taylor is a fantastic performer. Toni Darden competed an acrobatic dance to Let’s get loud and finished 7^th overall. Competing as the youngest in their division and beating out many 13-14 year old dancers is amazing and Myrick School of Dance is proud of their accomplishments. Jessica Neville competed an incredible acrobatic dance to Let me think about it and finished 1^st place platinum and 6^h overall in 15-16 year old division. “Jessica is an amazing natural dancer” states heather Merritt she has worked hard all year and we could not be happier for her hard work to have paid off in such a big way.

The Mini Team consisting of 9 dancers, 8 girls and 1 gentleman was formed just 2 years ago. The team competed a tap routine and a jazz routine both earning platinum and both finishing in the top 12 out of almost 30 routines in their division. Jeri Gums, head choreographer for the mini team could not be happier with their success, “to have so many young people work so hard and mesh so well together is rare, we hope they will be competing together for many years to come”.

Myrick School of Dance will host an open house this Saturday from 10-2 at THE ROCK located at 539 Becker Drive. Come see what we have to offer.