Small town dance team wins big at nationals
Published 11:01 am Thursday, July 13, 2017
- Members of the MKSOD competitive dance team, Postively Dance, pose for a photo. Pictured are: Back row from left to right: Jordyn Brooks, Meghan Nye, Mikayla Bunn, Hailey Dodd, Laurynn Hill, Brooklynn Hill, Jaycob Hill, Kennedy Klimczak. Back diagonal from right to left: Zoe Bauer, Kennedy Westrate, Gabrielle Davis, Emma Armijo, Natasha Griggs. Front diagonal from right to left: Morgan Baker, Jillian Abshagen, Mary Wright, Peyton Bolyard, Kaylea Leitch. Front line from left to right: Taylor Palmer, Nevaeh Marczewski, Gabrielle Munson, MaKenna Dierickx, Audrey Marrs, Cora Wegner, Emily Weller, Malayna Klug. Not Pictured: Kaylee Hewitt. (Submitted photo)
MKSOD’s Positively Dance Competition team travelled to Wisconsin Dells on July 1 to compete in the 2017 Danza National Finals.
Positively Dance is a team comprised of 27 dancers who originate from MKSOD studios in Dowagiac, Niles and Decatur. They spent seven days competing and taking class from professional dancers.
Each dance was awarded a placement based on the style and age of the group. Positively Dance was awarded 13 first places, 15 second places, 13 third places, five fourth places, three fifth places, three sixth places, two seventh places, one eighth place and one ninth place.
Positively Dance Director and choreographer Kathy Miller was awarded the “National Choreography Award” for her dance “Doppler Effect.”
At the end of the competition, dancer Jaycob Hill performed one final time as the 2016 Danza Starz titleholder, and passed his title on to the 2017 winners.
Positively Dance is scheduled to perform at the Summer in the City Festival in downtown Dowagiac alongside MKSOD students on from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 22.
In August, Positively Dance is planning a trip to New York City in order to see a Broadway show, tour Radio City Music Hall and perform and take class with the Rockettes.
Positively Dance would like to thank their communities for their support in making their experiences possible for these dancers.
To learn more about Positively Dance or MKSOD, contact the MKSOD Main Studio at (269) 782-7869 or visit mksod.net.
