Arts & Entertainment

Shrewsbury, Northborough Dancers Win Medals in Regional Dance Competition

Casey Peris was among the dancers from Shrewsbury who won medals at the competition. Naomi Greenspan of Northborough also got gold.

Westborough’s Rhythm Dance Company saw 14 of its entries reach the top 10 of their division, and earned 17 elite gold medals, 21 gold medals, and 12 high silvers, at the Headliners’ Regional Competition held from Jan. 25 to Jan. 27 in Worcester.

RDC brought 50 solos, duos and trios to the competition.

Headliners awards two soloists from each age division the title of Miss Headliner. The age divisions are Child Soloist, Junior Soloist, Teen Soloist, and Senior Soloist. The judges choose the title winners based on overall performance and dance quality. 

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Casey Peris, 12, of Shrewsbury was awarded an Elite Gold and was named Junior Miss Headliner for her solo “Unlike Me,”  choreographed by Nicole Kelley.  Two RDC dancers were named  Teen Miss Headliner. Kendra Lippert, 13, of Shrewsbury received an Elite Gold and earned first place overall with her solo “Turn to Stone,” which won Teen Miss Headliner for the 13 year-old division.  Naomi Greenspan, 14, of Northborough received an Elite Gold and earned second place overall in the Teen Soloist division with her performance “I’m Through,” which was named Teen Miss Headliner for the 14- and 15 year-old division. Kelley choreographed both solos.

Rhythm Dance Company’s performers also received many special Judge’s Awards, including the duo “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” which received an Elite Gold medal, first place overall in the Child Duo/Trio Division and a Judge’s Award for “Most Entertaining.” The routine was performed by Grace Luiso, 8, of Southborough and Morgan Shapiro, 7, of Shrewsbury, with choreography by Kelley.

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Headliners is a competition providing scholarships for the advancement of education to dance students while adhering to a realistic scoring and awards system that focuses on developing relationships, offering support and enriching the dance community.

Rhythm Dance Company’s 2012/2013 Company Soloists are: Olivia Alicandro, Marissa Campaniello, Nina Campaniello, Jackie Canzoneri, Haley Coghlin, Kacie Conant, Briana Cunningham, Kayla Daignault, Joli Dantz, Kayla Dantz, Allie Davis, Madison Dugan, Nicole Emery, Emma George, Molly Glynn, Haley Gould, Sara Graham, Naomi Greenspan, Alexa Kassos, Arianna Kassos, Brittany Leland, Kendra Lippert, Grace Luiso, Kira Marderosian, Lucy Marderosian, Anna McGovern, Paige O’Leary, Katie Pascarella, Casey Peris, Katie Radovanic, Lauren Reddington, Caitlin Ryan, Kasey Shapiro, Morgan Shapiro and Emily Spurr.

Rhythm Dance Company will compete at five additional regional competitions this season, finishing at the Starpower National Competition at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut in June.  Rhythm Dance Company’s Recital will be held Saturday, June 1at Worcester State College.


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