The 2011 Youth Arts Invitational held at Southwestern Michigan College June 18 featured some of the most talented dance companies in the area including Encore Dance Company, Dowagiac; Western Michigan Dance Centre, Kalamazoo; The Dance Zone, Paw Paw; and The Citadel, Benton Harbor.

Alexy Kulpin, of the Grand Rapids Ballet Company; Beth LaBaren-Root, Director of Dance SMC; and Matthew Farmer, Director of Dance Anderson University were the guest judges.

Kulpin, LaBaren-Root and Farmer also offered master classes in dance at the event.

Prizes were given in several categories, with soloist Jordan McKenzie from Encore Dance Company receiving the Class Act Award.

The Dance Zone received the prize for Best Technical Execution, and West Michigan Dance Centre received the award for Best Emotional Execution.

Encore Dance Company (choreographer Kimberly Martz), received the award for Best Choreography.

The success of the invitational competition has been met by requests to make it an annual affair. The Youth Arts Invitational 2012 is already in the works. For information about next year’s event, please contact Encore School of the Arts at (269) 783-0881.