MAD Company Performs

MAD Company appeared at the Pacific Gardens Assisted Living Home last week.  The residents loved each performance and were a great audience.  All of the dancers enjoyed the time they spent to bring a little happiness into someone else’s life.  Thank you to all the parents and dancers for giving your time to such a wonderful event.

Ms Karen the MC and Ms Diane

Tap dancing on carpet?  It was tough but the performers made it work.

Chelsea Montgomery Dubin

Centre Stage performs

Packed house and a great audience.

Hula Hoop Madness!!

Athena Denos

Another great performance by Chelsea Montgomery Dubin

MAD Company concludes the show.  Many in the audience stated, “these children are our future stars”  Great show everyone!

Student of the Week—-Malibu

This weeks student of the week in Malibu is Chelsea Montgomery-Duban.  Chelsae is pictured above with “So You Think You Can Dance” finalist Thayne Jasperson.  Chelsea is 15 years old and has been dancing and performing for over 13 years.  Chelsea is another of our true triple threat performers.  She is an accomplished dancer as well as a singer and actress.  She has appeared in may stage productions with our Center Stage Company under the direction of Diane Linder.  She takes more than 12 hours of class at the studio each week.  She has even found time to take ballroom dancing.  She especially loves ballet and lyrical and tap.  She studies all dance forms except Hip Hop.  She hopes to take her talent and one day appear on Broadway.  Her favorite thing about The Malibu Academy of Dance are the teachers and the dance community.  Kevin Montgomery, Chelsea’s Dad also take a tap class at the studio and is the “Star” of our “Nutcracker” production appearing as Grandpa and Mother Ginger.  His rendition of Mother Ginger is the most unique interpretation of any production anywhere.  Congradulations Chelsea for your selection as Student of the Week.

Chelsea and Ms Karen and choreographer Mandy Moore from “So You Think You Can Dance”

BAD Company Perform @ Clippers Game

The Brentwood Academy of Dance Team (BAD Company) performed at halftime of the Clippers game at Staples Center yesterday.  The crowd of over 18,000 people loved the Hip Hop routine performed by the entire company, (over 37 dancers).

Ms Karen and the girls before the performance

Sunny being Sunny

On the floor at Staples Center

Shunka on the Jumbotron

The Junior Team takes their turn to wow the crowd.

Violet & Emma on the Jumbotron

Natalia on the Jumbotron

The entire Company on the floor

Moments before a standing ovation.  Congratulations to everyone!

Jump Convention & Competition

The MAD Company attended the Jump convention and took a marathon of classes all day Saturday.  The BAD Company also attend classes for three days and competed on Saturday night.  Jump is a highly competitive event that we are proud to say that The BAD team received many top in division awards as well as four members of the team members were given scholarships for their outstanding performances.  The following are various pictures from the competition, most from John Peruzzi.  Thank you John for your contribution.  Thank you also to all our wonderful teachers for your hard work and dedication and to the parents for your sacrifice and commitment to the team.

Junior Team

The Mini”s

It’s raining Gold Metals!!!

Ms Karen & 1st year So You Think YOu Can Dance winner Nick Lazzarini.

Ms Karen & So You Think You Can Dance choreographer Mandy Moore.

Student of the Week—-Malibu

This weeks student of the week in Malibu is Dana Devitt.  Dana has the distinction of taking the most classes of any student at Dance for Kids/Malibu Academy of Dance.  Her mother Kim even takes a tap class every Monday night.  Kim also helps the M.A.D. Company as team Mom, so this recognition is somewhat shared by Dana and Kim.

Dana is at the studio seven days a week and spend over 16 hours a week in class.  Dana is 12 years old and has been dancing for over 10 years.  Her favorite dance form is lyrical.  She is a true triple threat as she not only dances, but loves to sing and has been a  featured actress in many of Diane Linders musical theatre productions.  Dana also plays the flute and love to paint and works with clay.  To say that she is in touch with her creative side is quite and understatement.  Dana says that one day she would love to take her talent to Broadway.  Dana stated that she what she love most about the studio are the fabulous teachers and that she has many great friends in class with her.  Congratulation Dana!

Student of the Week—-Brentwood

This week our Brentwood Student of the week is Morgan Geffner.  Morgan is 16 years old and is the student with the most senority at The Brentwood Academy of Dance/Dance for Kids.  She has been dancing for over 14 years here at the studio.  Her favorite dance form is Lyrical and Hip Hop.  She says that she will always dance and take class of some sort thru college and beyond.  Morgan would possibily like to dance professionally.  She attends over 14 hours of class per week which leaves little time for anything else, but she love musical theatre and is on the cheerleading squad at school.  Morgan says she loves the family atmosphere and the love and caring feeling everyone shows toward each other here at the studio.  Moragn has overcome some health issues and has shown tremendous courage.  Morgan proves the rule that great things come in small packages.

BAD Company Receives Top Awards at ADA Competition

The B.A.D. Company was received with rave reviews by the judges at last weeks ADA Dance Competition.  The above photo shows just some of the trophies and plaques the team earned.  Some of the highlights include Ultimate Gold (highest possible) for the BAD Company Jazz production number.  The seniors received Ultimate Gold for their dance as did the Junior small Jazz group.  Ultimate Gold was awarded to the seniors for their tap & lyrical dances.  Patrick Needham had everyone in tears with his routine and was awarded Teen Male Dancer of the Year. Emma Kempson wowed the judges and was awarded Junior Dancer of the Year.   Catherine Haber and Jordan Bleibtreu received Ultimate Gold awards for their solos performances.  The Company was awarded the Top Award 1st Place for 12 and under small group.  Our wonderful Mini Team received Gold Metals for their production and tap numbers and a first overall award for their age group.

All of this is not possible without the tremendous talent and hard work of our teachers.  Brette & Stephanie won best choreography and Brette won the Diamond Award for her Choreography. Adriana and Sunny’s dances received Ultimate Gold Awards.  Everyone left the competition with a fantastic feeling of accomplishment.  Congratulations to everyone!!!

Student of the Week—-Malibu

Grace Clarke is this weeks student of the week.  Grace is 11 years old and has been dancing for over 8 years.  She loves all of her classes but Tap is her favorite.  She attends over eight hours of class per week.  Her hobbies include Volleyball and choir.  She loves many things about Dance for Kids/The Malibu Academy of Dance but she especially loves her teachers and the many friends she has here at the studio.  Grace hopes to continue dancing at least through college.  Grace has really made great progress as a dancer and all of her teachers are so proud of her attitude and dedication she has shown the past few years.

Student of the Week—Brentwood

This week our Brentwood Academy of Dance student of the week is Hallie Brookman.  Hallie is 15 years old and has been dancing for 13 years.  Her favorite dance style is Lyrical.  She hopes to dance through college and then see where that takes her.  She curently dances over 15 hours a week her at the studio, which leaves very little time for other hobbies, but she loves to play tennis and piano.  In 2007 she injured her knee which required surgery.  She was out for 5 months.  Hallie was determined to get back to the form that made her one of the most accomplished dancers at The Brentwood Academy of Dance.  She went to rehab three times per week and we are glad to report that she is now back to 100%.  Hallie said that she love the environment at Dance for Kids/Brentwood Academy of Dance.  The studio is also a wonderful place that allows her to express herself.  Congratulations to Hallie for all that you have accomplished with dance.

Student of the Week—-Brentwood

The student dancer of the week in Brentwood is Brooke Diamond.  Brooke is 15 years old and has been dancing for over 13 years.  Her favorite form of dance is Lyrical/contemporary.  She intend to dance at least thru college and if the opportunity is available she would like to try Broadway.  Brooke is already assisting at Dance for Kids as an instructor and works during the summer in our summer musical theatre camps.  She spends almost everyday at the studio, but has recently begun to play the guitar in the little spare time she has.  As a member of B.A.D. Company she love the fact that she is close to everyone on the team and they are like a second family to Brooke.  Brooke is a beautiful dancer and we a very proud of her accomplishments at the Brentwood Academy of Dance.