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(Posted 7:30 a.m., May 11)
Orléans
dance studio cleans up at local American Dance Awards
competition
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online
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 Leeming
Dancework's competitive dance team stands
in front of some of trophies they won at the
recent ADA regional competition in Ottawa
where they captured nine individual titles.
(Not pictured: Emma Portner) Fred Sherwin/Photo
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Leeming
Danceworks has gained a reputation as one of the best
dance studios in Ottawa and for good reason. The Orléans
dance studio has won more than its fair share of awards
-- much more.
A
week after getting the overall top score in every senior
category at the Fever Toronto dance competition, they
won nine individual titles and secured top scores in five
group categories at the American Dance Awards competition
in Ottawa on the weekend.
Their
success over the past few years has led to a number of
students transferring from other schools, including 15-year-old
Annie Chick who won the Teen Dancer of the Year title
at the ADAs in Ottawa.
"It's
been amazing. I'm so happy I made the switch," said
Chick who has been dancing competitively for the past
six years. "I've learned so much and I've gained
so much experience. I never would of had been able to
do what I'm doing now at my old school."
Chick
won her title dancing a contemporary solo to the song
"No Need" by The Cranberries.
Because
of the sheer number of dancers in the teen category, nearly
160 in all, the organizers awarded three teen titles and
Leeming students won them all. Besides Chick, Lauren O'Neill
and Brianna Clarke were also named Teen Dancers of the
Year, making them eligible to compete at the ADA National
Championships in Orlando in July.
Other
title winners include Noah Latreille who won Young Male
Dancer of the Year; Ashley De Alameida won Junior Dancer
of the Year and William Mayer was named Junior Male Dancer
of the Year.
Clarke
also received the top overall score for her solo performance
of "Lola", and O'Neill teamed up with Dominic
Prud'homme to receive the top adjudicated score for duets
and trios for their performance of "Lost".
As
was the case in the Teen category, the Dancer of the Year
division for competitors 16 and over also had over 150
entries which resulted in multiple title holders and once
again they were all from Leeming as Emma Portner and Mary-Kathryn
Bohn both won the coveted blue title holder's jacket.
Bohn,
16, is a veteran member of the Leeming Danceworks studio
having competed with her sister Emma for nearly eight
years. The ADA Ottawa title is her first since 2010.
"I
really wasn't expecting it at all. I was very excited"
said Bohn, who won her title for her lyrical performance
of "Come Dance With Me".
Kyle
Lemay rounded out the ADA title recipients from Leeming
by capturing the Male Dancer of the Year title.
Beside
the individual titles, Leeming Danceworks received the
top overall score for their small group and large group
routines at both the teen and senior levels; as well as
the top overall score for their class performance of "Is
That All There Is" which received the top adjudicated
score at Fever T.O.
Leeming
Danceworks founder Sharon Leeming Mann credits the studio's
search for increasingly more challenging choreography
for the students' success, but it is the students themselves
who turn the choreography into award-winning performances.
"It's
a combination of the kids challenging themselves and new
choreography. They also push themselves by going to a
lot of dance conventions and workshops," said Leeming
Mann.
The
studio's emphasis on more challenging choreography was
recognized by the judges at the ADAs who awarded them
three top choreography awards including top junior choreographer
which went to double award recipient Emma Portner.
All
seven titleholders now have the option of performing at
the ADA Nationals in Orlando. Emma Bohn will be making
the trip with her sister Mary Kathryn to defend the National
title she won last year. But first they have three more
competitions to fine tune their routines at Candance Montreal,
Brockville and Niagara Falls.
Judging
by their recent success, they will no doubt return home
with even more titles and a few dozen trophies.
(This
story was made possible thanks to the generous support of
our local business partners.)
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MATT LULOFF W/ EDISON RUPERT performing at the Stray Dog Brewing Company, 501 Lacolle Way in the Taylor Creek Business Park. To register your team visit 
OTTAWA CARLETON MALE CHOIR in concert at the Navan-Vars United Church 1129 Smith Rd. in Navan at 2:30 p.m. Tickets $20 at the door.
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