Dancer Faith Brown flipped her small partner in the air, hoisting her above her shoulders. The older and younger classes at Dance Carousel Studio have been working together to polish their skills.
It’s working.
At the beginning of the month, Dance Carousel Studio competed against dozens of other dance studios from around the state at Showstopper, the largest dance competition in the country. The dancers earned top honors in solo, trio and team divisions.
There were three different solos performed by dancers from Dance Carousel.
“I’ve done one before,” Amiah Giles said. “Now that I’m older, I like it. You’re on stage by yourself, so if you mess up, it’s not as noticeable. You get to express yourself better, too.”
The studio’s only trio placed first for their tap routine to Bette Midler’s “Stuff Like That There.”
“There’s (fewer) people, so you can show your emotions better,” Brown said. “You get to show your own personality.”
The three group performances also placed well. For some of the girls, it was their first competition.
“I felt proud of myself for winning the award,” Dakota Fredere said. “I always will remember what we did, how good we did.”
The new techniques the younger girls are learning came in handy during the competition.
“It’s hard, because we got flipped into the air with another older girl,” Kenley Connell said. “It’s hard for us, because you’ve got to have a straight body and keep your hands in the air.”
Although some girls were first-time competitors, there were many seasoned veterans, too, that can’t seem to get enough of the dance floor.
“I like dance, because it really gets you moving,” Saige Starford said. “I’m really energetic, and it gets you moving around a lot.”
The dancers study under instructor Lori Matta, a former New England Patriots cheerleader. She has been teaching dance, cheerleading and tumbling in Plant City for years. After moving from the Boston area about seven years ago, she taught dance in various settings, most recently at her new studio, 402 W. Ball St.
“There’s just such a warm home feeling here in Plant City,” Matta said.
Many of her students have been with her for years.
“We have one of the most amazing teachers ever,” Delaney Flowers said.
Taryn Storter agrees.
“She worked us so hard, and now, we’re at the level of competition, the same level as her Boston girls,” Storter said. “I’m thankful she’s teaching us.”
Their awards have qualified them to go to the Showstopper National Finals in either Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Anaheim, Calif.; or Galveston, Texas, this summer.
“I’m looking forward to improving,” Jacelyn Shissler said. “I like how there’s all different kinds of girls competing.”
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
THE AWARDS
Teen Performance Super: Dance Carousel Studio — First place overall
Teen Performance Large: “It Don’t Mean a Thing” — First place overall
Senior Performance Duet/Trio: “Roar” — First place overall
Jacelyn Shissler, Junior Performance Solo — First place overall
Teen Performance Large: “Bombay Dreams” — Second place overall
Kendall Gaudens, Teen Performance Solo — Second place overall
Amiah Giles, Teen Performance Solo: “Stuff Like That There” — 10th place overall
One double-platinum award
Four platinum awards
Two gold awards