Dance Company Highlights

Alvin Ailey Audition - September 2007

Dancers from the Starlet Dance Company auditioned for the Alvin Ailey Summer Dance Intensive in NYC. Selected dancers received an invitation to participate in dance programs at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in NYC: Mallory Cole,

Dawnelle Gregory, Heather Lancaster, Sara Lancaster, Darla Pilcher, & teachers-

Mackenzie Allen and Erin Muenks.

Mackenzie & Erin, teachers at Saundra Lee’s, received an invitation to take

independent study classes at the studio in NYC.

Heather Lancaster received an invitation to the summer intensive program.

Sara Lancaster also received an invitation to the summer intensive program in the junior age level. Dawnelle Gregory received an invitation to the summer intensive program,

as well as the 3-year certificate program, an elite program of intense training for the

pre-professional dancer.

IDC Regional Competition - March 2008

Saundra Lee’s Dancing Starlets competed at the IDC Regional Dance Competition located at the Lied’s Center in Lawrence, KS, in March. The Starlet Company took 31 pieces & received 9 platinum awards, 5 high gold awards, 15 gold awards, & 2 sterling silver awards, plus 7 overall awards, including Best Choreography & an invitation to dance in the Entertainment Challenge.

Gold & “Class Act” award - Junior Advanced Jazz - “Mess Around”

Platinum - Senior Soloists - Heather Lancaster’s Modern Solo: “The Pull Of The Moon” & Dawnelle Gregory’s Tap solo: “Acapella”, & her student choreography Lyrical solo: “Stay”.

Platinum - Senior Duo/Trio - Dawnelle & Heather’s “Across The Universe”, & Dawnelle, Heather, & Darla Pilcher’s, “I Know You Are But What Am I”.

Platinum - Senior Groups - Modern: “Round Here”& “Sunday Bloody Sunday”,

Lyrical: “Let It Be” & Jazz: “Wild Boys”

“Wild Boys” was also chosen to perform in the overall entertainment challenge & “Sunday Bloody Sunday” received the overall award for “Best Choreography”.

3rd Overall High-Scoring SR duo/trio: “Across The Universe”

2nd Overall High-Scoring SR duo/trio: “I Know You Are But What Am I”

3rd Overall High-Scoring SR large group for “Wild Boys”

2nd Overall High-Scoring SR line group for “Sunday Bloody Sunday”

1st overall High-Scoring SR small group for “Let It Be”

Masquerade - May 2008

The Starlet Dance Company competed in the Masquerade Dance Competition at the Liberty PAC in May. We won the “Top Studio” award, meaning our pieces had the highest average score of all of the studios.

Gold & high gold - Junior - tap: “That Thing You Do”

Jazz: “Boys From New York City”

Gold - Junior Advanced - Tap: “Mambo”, Jazz: “Mess Around” & “September”

High gold - Senior - “C’est La Vie” & “Paper Thin Hymn”

High gold - Senior and Senior Advanced - Jazz: “Wild Boys”

Platinum & 1st & 3rd overall high scoring large groups - Senior & Senior Advanced Modern: “Cannonball” & “Sunday Bloody Sunday”

Platinum - Senior Advanced Modern - “Round Here” & Tap: “Ants Marching”

“Round Here” was asked to perform in the Encore Presentation.

Platinum, Judges Choice lyrical award & 1st overall high-scoring of entire competition & “Best of Show” award - Senior Advanced Lyrical - “Let It Be”

High Gold & 2nd overall high-scoring duo/trio award: Jazz: “Pumpin’ Up the Party”-

Sophia Hirt & Jessica Haworth

High gold & 3rd overall high scoring duo/trio award - Lyrical: “Born to Win”-