By Staff
Encore Dance Company of Dowagiac returned Sunday from Encore Showcase 2005 in Detroit with nine platinum awards.
Regional competition featured some of the area's most talented dancers.
The company also achieved five gold and three high gold awards for a total of 17 dances taken to competition.
All 17 dances qualify Encore for national finals in Las Vegas in June.
Amy Rose, artistic director and former member said, "The dancers improved so much this year, the awards were just the icing on the cake.
In addition to Rose, other choreographers included Abby Allsop, Kathy Bishop, Valerie Moore, Anne Wiesemes and Kimberly Kulwicki.
All are alumni of the company with the exception of Kulwicki.
Bishop, Kulwicki and Moore are all instructors at Encore Performing Arts along with Amy Rose.
The company was also awarded judges' choice awards for "I Believe" - choreographed by Anne Wiesemes - and "Get Low" choreographed by Kimberly Kulwicki.
The critics' choice award, given to only two dances, serves as a special invitation to the national finals with a value of more than $700.
Encore received this award for "Dancin' Fool," a full production number featuring the entire company and choreographed by Amy Rose.
In addition to the other awards, "I Believe" was the high score winner of the Junior Small Groups. "Tainted Love" was the high score winner of the Senior Large Group, both choreographed by Anne Wiesemes. Encore also received 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th overall high score in the same category. High school seniors, Emily Seurynck, Electra Lowe and Kayla Kling also competed with solos. Seurynck received special recognition for her solo "Do What You Have To Do".
All company members were able to participate in a master class taught by famed choreographer, Rhonda Miller. From this class only five students were awarded full scholarships to the national finals workshops. Samantha Mathews and Leana Allen, both of Dowagiac, were awarded scholarships.
Encore Dance Company will be performing all of these award winning dances at their Annual Spring Show as part of the Dogwood Fine Arts Festival at Southwestern Michigan College on May 7th at 7:30 p.m.. Tickets are available through the Dogwood Fine Arts Festival at 269-782-1115. The show will also feature a dance choreographed by the world renowned Frank Hatchett of Broadway Dance Center in New York City. Mr. Hatchett will be offering a workshop open to the public at Encore Performing Arts on Saturday May 30th. The workshop will double as an audition for dancers interested in performing Hatchett's piece that will be featured in the Spring Show. For more information about the workshop call Dogwood at 782-1115.
Pictured below the Encore Dance Company with their awards: Back Row left to right Katie Kowalski, Ashley Hannapel, Kelsey McKenzie, Beth miller, Bill Davis, Emily Seurynck. Middle row left to right Bridget Reed, Jill Wiesemes, Cassie Leitz, Jenna Mitchell, Jill Collins, Electra Lowe, Nora Vollmer, Marki Jo Nate, Julia Kendrix, Leanna Allen. Front row left to right Molly Seurynck, Danielle Taylor, Kara Simmons, Jessi Hannapel, Samantha Mathews.