Dancers Shine in Starpower Competition

Ashburn Troupe Moves Out Front With Awards

Riding in cars painted with the names of their routines, 172 dancers from Studio Bleu Dance Center in Ashburn headed to Ocean City last month for the Starpower National Dance Competition.

At the event, which took place July 19 through 23, Studio Bleu dancers received first place in the 18-and-older category and fourth place in the teen division and won the Viewer's Choice Award for a precision tap number, among other awards. More than 1,300 dances were performed by dancers from 45 studios from across the country.

Kimberly Rishi, 38, one of Studio Bleu's owners, said she is proud of her students for their performance at the country's longest-running national dance competition.

"I feel that the talent is so diverse that the kids get a great sense of what other top dance studios in the country are doing," she said. Rishi said she was pleasantly surprised by one of the first-place awards, which went to a first-time competitor, 6-year-old Luke Spring.

"He watched his sisters tap, and one day he decided to put on tap shoes," Rishi said. "Out of 300 solos, he placed first in a tap routine. The trophy was about three times taller than he was."

Sarah Hall, 10, of Ashburn was one of 10 girls in the "Double Dutch Bus" routine, which won the Viewer's Choice Award. Sarah takes lyrical, jazz and ballet classes at Studio Bleu, but she says tap is her favorite.

"I eat Sweet Tarts before I dance, and it gets me hyped," she said of her preparations. Sarah also won sixth place out of 200 solos for her solo performance, a tap number called "Run the Show."

Her mother, Terre Hall, said she was skeptical about competitive dance before Sarah started taking classes at Studio Bleu.

"I wanted her to appreciate the art of the dance and the creativity. But when we did get involved, I saw within a couple months how much she really loved it and thrived on it," Hall said, adding that Studio Bleu is unique in the way the instructors focus on the art of dance while also excelling in competitions. "Does it get crazy and hectic, and do I get frustrated? A little bit. But that's all part of the competition," said Hall, who laughed as she mentioned the rhinestone costumes the girls wear.

Caitlin Joyce, 9, was also in the "Double Dutch Bus."

"I really like being onstage, because everyone's watching you and everyone's cheering and clapping," she said. "You hear all this clapping and sometimes you hear your name called out." Caitlin said her parents and three siblings drove with her to Ocean City to watch her perform.

The dance company performed dance numbers in hip-hop, tap, ballet, point, lyrical and jazz styles in addition to doing production numbers and tumbling routines.

Rishi said the 14 instructors who traveled with the dance team worked to make the competition fun for all and organized group events, including a scavenger hunt. But dancing was the priority. Rishi said her students are so passionate about dance that they chose to perform at the Ocean City boardwalk on several evenings even after 10 hours of competition.

Studio Bleu dancers compete in six regional competitions a year, plus two national events. Future performances are scheduled to include the International Children's Festival at Wolf Trap, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York and the 2012 Olympics in London.