Carroll County News: Features: Local Elite dancers win top awards at contests (06/14/12)

Elite Studios dancers from Berryville and Fayetteville pose for a group shot at their dance competition in Tulsa last month, after several of the girls won top accolades there.

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Elite Dance Studios dancers have received top accolades at two dance competitions.

Earlier this year, Elite Dance Studios of Berryville & Fayetteville assembled in Tulsa, Okla. and returned home with multiple awards.

At Co-Dance, a competition founded by Paula Abdul, Elite's students participated in two days of competitions and classes taught by many renowned choreographers.

Fifteen Elite dance routines achieved a gold or higher, as well as a few special awards. Elite won the Facebook fan favorite award and Co-Dance award.

The Leadership award went to Katie Johnson of Berryville, Ark. The Junior Scholarship award to Hannah Demerchant of Berryville.

The Senior Scholarship award to Jenna O'Dell of Fayetteville, and Co-Dance Teacher certificates for the studio owners and artistic directors, Emily Viator & Virginia Mock.

Elite Dance Studios attended Primetime, a division of Westerfield Management, Inc. where Elite Dance Studios again claimed top awards, including Best Choreographer award, given to Emily Viator.

The following is a list of routines:

Co-dance

* Shake Your Groove Thing: Lilli Belle Compton, Lexi Woods & Taylor-Jane Gordon (High Gold) (First Place)

* Ladies Choice: Lilli Belle Compton, Hannah Demerchant, Taylor-Jane Gordon, Ally Holstead, Alexandria Lea, Shelby Ratner, Gabriela Regalado, Emma Samac, Eden Wlson, Gavin Wilson & Lexi Woods (Gold) (First Place & Top Ten)

* Popular: Kylee Sigmon & Katie Johnson (First Place & Top Ten)

* Umbrella: Morgan Drebenstedt, Lacey Farmer, Mary-Michael Hudgens, Katie Johnson, Kalie Kendrick, Jurnee Logan, Kylee Sigmon & Emily Sugg (Gold) (Elite Second Place & Top Ten)

* Girls Just Wanna Have Fun: Hannah Demerchant, Shelby Ratner, Lexi Woods, Kourtney Granger, & Selena Copeland (Second Place)

* This Is The Life: Kourtney Granger, Catherine Hudgens, Destiny Mock, Aly Morgan, Nicole Morrison, Kohnnar Patton, Emily Sink, Hayden Sink, Karissa Sperduto, TJ Strecker-Eammons (Second Place & Top Ten)

Solos

* Diva Las Vegas: Shelby Ratner (Gold) (First Place)

* Love Makes The World Go Round: Taylor-Jane Gordon (Gold)

* Poison Ivy: Kourtney Granger (Gold)

* The Way I Am: Hannah Demerchant (Gold)

* Love Makes The World Go Round: Taylor-Jane Gordon (Gold) (First Place)