SEQUIM — Six young dancers from Clallam County took home gold, silver and platinum awards and a scholarship from a Seattle dance competition, reported Naomi Alstrup, their Sequim teacher and choreographer.
“This was their first time competing, so I’m pretty proud of my girls,” said Alstrup, who traveled to the Dupree Dance convention Feb. 20-22 with the winners: Sequim’s Eden Batson and Joie Darminio, both 14; Allison Van de Wege, 13; Ava Johnson, 9; and Kristina Holtrop, 18, along with Port Angeles’ Abby Kuth, 17.
Kuth, who choreographed an original hip-hop piece titled “Latch,” won a scholarship for entrance into any Dupree Dance Convention in the country, including the national event in Branson, Mo., and the summer intensive in Chicago.
Alstrup works with these students at the Aspire Academy of Expressive Arts, 160 Harrison Road just west of Sequim, where she is the artistic director.
While Kuth’s “Latch” won a silver award, Alstrup choreographed four other winners: the group’s jazz dance “Pretty in Pink” won a gold award, as did “Skinny Love,” Batson’s lyrical dance, and “Bread of Angels,” Darminio’s contemporary piece.
“It’s Oh So Quiet,” a musical theater dance number performed by Holtrop, won the platinum award.
“It was a really positive experience,” Alstrup said, adding that the New York City-based Ellenore Scott, who has appeared on the television show “So You Think You Can Dance,” was one of the teachers.
“The girls were real excited to be taking class from her . . . The instructors and staff of Dupree were really encouraging and great role models,” she said.
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Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5062, or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
