Created with the opening of Danza! Performing Arts Academy in 1996, Danzaco Dance companies began to further develop, and train interested and talented students with additional training and performance opportunities. Dancers perform at a variety of community, charitable and competitive events throughout the year. Attendance at numerous conventions and master classes further exposes students to the professional world. Dancers consistently achieved top honors against the best companies in North America and were the recipients of several scholarships over their competive season. The entire Company was awarded “Broadway Dance Dream” Summer Study Scholarships in New York City for the third consecutive year. Each competition season one studio is nominated from a regional event. The participants are given opportunities to take part in master classes, study and perform on Broadway.

Dancers were invited to compete in the prestigious World Dance Championship with a golden ticket invitation. The company was given a convention scholarship and received the “Entertainment award” and several choreography, costume and photogenic awards.

Group dances consistently placed in the top overall in their divisions with several special judge recognition awards. They also qualified to compete at the National event with each regional competition they attended. The group performed a wide variety of genres including lyrical, contemporary, musical theatre, and jazz. The senior company performed a Bob Fosse inspired jazz number to “All that Jazz’ and had an undefeated season receiving first in their category and first overall in age 15-19 at each event. Senior dancers are Daisia Draggett, Kyra Taylor and Mckenna Taylor of Fredonia, Emma Forthman and Tabitha Shevlin of Silver Creek.

Junior dancers Marissa Grisanti of Silver Creek, Emma Ahlstrom of Dunkirk, Grace Nolan of Westfield, Mia Gorka and Daisia Draggett of Fredonia and Danielle Krajewski of Gowanda performed a high energy novelty Musical Theatre dance of “Revolting Children.” Both groups presented a contemporary lyrical dance to “Mama Who Bore Me,” a Musical Theatre number “Seize the Day” and “Alexander Hamilton.”

Senior dancers, in the front row from left: Kyra Taylor, Emma Forthman. In the back, from left: Daisia Draggett, Mckenna Taylor and Tabitha Shevlin.

Several dancers competed as Soloists, Mckenna Taylor was awarded the Senior National Title with Tabitha Shevlin and Kyra Taylor coming in 2nd and 3rd respectively. Emma Forthman was awarded the Junior title and Marissa Grisanti 4th Overall at Nationals.

In regular comp season, Mckenna Taylor was awarded the highest scores at each event with platinum elite and double platinum ratings and won several individual scholarships and four technique awards. Her contemporary piece “Red Football” and “Brojstor” also received top choreography awards for Director Krista Taylor at each event.

Emma Forthman, Kyra Taylor and Mckenna Taylor were all given invitations for a week-long invitation-only summer study opportunity with Mckenna Taylor receiving one of the two scholarships given out for the event.

Kyra Taylor, Tabitha Shevlin and Emma Forthman each received first in category consistently and were ranked in the top three overall with platinum rankings and five stars in the Senior and Teen divisions respectively at all events. Kyra Taylor performed a contemporary piece to “Copy Cat,” Miss Shevlin competed in both the acro lyrical category with “Hide and Seek” and jazz division with “Womanizer.” Emma Forthman competed in the lyrical division with “Home.”

In the junior division soloists Mia Gorka performed a Jazz routine to “Red Balloon,” Danielle Krajewski a lyrical piece “If Only” and Marissa Grisanti presented a lyrical piece to “Castle on a Cloud” and high energy jazz piece to “Warrior,.” each winning in the top of their age groups.

Kyra and Mckenna Taylor performed a contemporary lyrical piece to “Defying Gravity.” The duet earned platinum rating and first in category and top three overall highest scoring duet or trio at each competition.

Junior duet “One and the Same,” an acro inspired performance by Marissa Grisanti and Emma Ahlstrom received top scoring in Overall junior duet/trio division and a special award at SummerDanse.

Dancers also performed at local events, retirement communities and parades and can be seen this summer at numerous charity events, the Chautauqua County Fair, parades and competition. The new dance season begins in July and new students are welcome and encouraged to attend, please call Director Krista Taylor at 672-5095 for details. An open house and registration will be held on Wednesday, June 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Danza! studios at 7 E. Main St., Fredonia.