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NEWS & EVENTS
Local Dance Teams Sweep Competition
April 14, 2007 - On April 14, 2007 dancers from The Dixon Dance Academy of West Dundee took their nine competing dance teams to the I Love Dance Competition at The Fairmount Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. The studio was awarded cash prices totaling $600 and over 25 trophies for their 14 routines. Artistic Director Cathy Dixon was dually acknowledged with an Award of Excellence for Outstanding Performance and a Teacher’s Award for Outstanding Participation.
Dancers from Sleepy Hollow included: Jaclyn Brisebois, Gianna Capobianco, Cori Eischen, Sydney Faler, Jasmine Getz, Mandy Groch, Mimi Groch, Alyssia Horn, Kiana Horn, Natalie Novak, Nicole Novak, Isabella Romano, Desiree Sulzman, Emma Ulbert, Lauren Warner and Gaby Winkle. Dancers from Elgin included: Bethann Barry, Brianna Dowell, Devyn Dowell, Sarah Haggard, Rebekah Harrington, Tali Ilani, Allison Malone, Megan Malone, Frances Mangahas, Stephanie Mangahas, Mary Grace Martens, Kaitlyn O’Reilly, Cheedah Phoutharath, Briana Quiachon, Sarah Robertson and Beth Varley. Dancers from West Dundee included: Camille Balch, Alyssa Martorano, Danielle Mastricola, Autumn Mrozik, Kate Norman, Alison Novak, Katie Pluymert, Rogelio Realzola, Amelia Schmid, Taylor Seal, and Isabelle Stevenson. Dancers from Gilberts included: Kristina Caul, Abby Darrow, Jordan Latimer, Kirstin Latimer, Courtney Mueller, Cheyenne Mullen, Monique Mullen, Jessica Palmer, and Tatiana Ranallo. Dancers from South Elgin included: Elizabeth Abitua, Megan Abitua, Molly Carlson, Esther Fiebig, Taylor Opsahl, and Anna Marie Schutt. Dancers from Carpentersville included: Grace Callihan, Kelsey Callihan, Courtney Gonzalez, Taylor Otter, Bailey Rakow, and Jeremy Staple. Dancers from Huntley included: Trisha Fritz, Rachel Kline, Sarah Quirk, Emily Seymour, and Marisa Seymour. Dancers from East Dundee included: Alyssa Gorman, Katrina Gorman, Ashley Herzovi, Brittany Herzovi and Hannah Johnson. Dancers from Inverness included: Aubree Anderson, Breanna Anderson, Abigail Stelnicki, and Loretta Stelnicki. Dancers from Algonquin included: Hanna Azcui, Katy Geminer, and Stephanie Lindblom. Dancers from Crystal Lake included: Carly Stovall and Hanna Stovall. Dancers from Lake in the Hills included Lilie Rose. Dancers from St. Charles included Erin Dix. Dancers from Cary included Brooke Senger.
The Tiny Team, which consists of dancers ages 7-9, received a first place trophy, first place overall for their age group, and high score overall for their character jazz dance “Be Our Guest”, choreographed by Dixon. Also, they received a first place trophy, second overall for their age division and “The Musicality Award” for their tap dance “Codfish Ball”, choreographed by Andrea Capriotti. Jr. Jazz Team, which consists of 9-15 year old dancers, won a first place trophy, first place overall for age division, and high score overall for their jazz dance “Witch Doctor”, choreographed by Dixon. Also, they received a first place trophy for their lyrical dance “Into the Blue”, choreographed by Capriotti. Jr. Tap Team, which consists of 9-12 year olds, won a first place trophy and second place overall for their age division for “Anything Goes”, choreographed by Dixon. Intermediate Jazz Team, which consists of dancers ages 12-14, won a first place trophy, third place overall for their age group and high score overall for their lyrical dance “Summer Breeze”, choreographed by Kyla Duewel. Also, they received a first place trophy for their jazz dance “We’re Dancin”, choreographed by Capriotti. Intermediate Tap Team, which consists of dancers ages 12-14, won a first place trophy for “Too Darn Hot”, choreographed by Capriotti. Sr. Jazz Team, which consists of dancers ages 15-18, took home a first place trophy, first place overall for their age division, and overall high score for senior lever dance for their lyrical dance “Dock of the Bay”, choreographed by Heather Franklin. Also, they received a first place trophy and third place overall for their age division for their jazz dance “A Little Less Conversation”, choreographed by Franklin. Sr. Tap Team, which consists of dancers ages 15-18, took home a first place trophy and “The Best Of Show” Award for “Anchors Aweigh”, choreographed by Capriotti. Hip Hop Team, which consists of dancers ages 13-18, took home a second place trophy for “We Ride”, choreographed by Jose Cerda. IMPACT Dance Company took home a first place trophy and second place overall for their age division for their modern dance “Seasick”, choreographed by Karen Griesbaum. Also, they received a third place trophy for jazz dance “Shipwrecked”, choreographed by Martine Grywalski.
Dixon Dance Academy offers classes at The Centre of Elgin and Elgin Community College. For more information, contact Artistic Director Cathy Dixon at (847) 836-5678 or www.dixondanceacademy.com.
February 2007 - IMPACT Dance Company performed at the Easter Seals Telethon at Elgin Community College. The Telethon was broadcast on local cable.
Click play to watch!!
Local Dance Studio Participates in Cultural Exchange Program
July 10, 2006 - The Dixon Dance Academy of West Dundee and Elgin has just returned home from a cultural exchange with the locals of Cancun, Mexico. The traveling group of 50 dancers and 4 teachers left June 23rd for a week to take dance lessons, perform in three recitals, and tour the sites during 'Noches Carribean,' a month long festival that celebrates the arts.
The group was chosen via video audition by an agency called Young Champions Inc. from Michigan. They invited Dixon Dance Academy to represent the U.S. at the Festivale de Cancun and arranged for the ground transportation, hotel accomodations, rehearsal space, advertising, shows and sightseeing tours. The girls ranging in age from 7-18 took a bus to Escuela De Arte, a two month old dance studio owned by Tere Hadad, formerly of the Ballet Cancun.
"At first, my dancers seemed a bit nervous about taking classes in a foreign language," said Cathleen Dixon, Artistic Director of Dixon Dance Academy. "I was apprehensive about overwhelming them with our entire bus load full of 49 girls and one boy. But, once we arrived and were welcomed with open arms, American flags and Mario,our translator, we let our hair down and had a blast!"
The Mexican dancers demonstrated their Polynesian and Ballet Folkorico styles for the Americans. The Dixon dancers showed Ballet, Tap and Jazz styles. They were especially enchanted by the hip hop dancing and wanted to learn. The DDA teachers were happy to instruct them and were impressed at how quickly the Cancun kids caught on to the movement, even with a language barrier.
"We counted out the steps in Spanish for them, and they used English when they taught our kids a traditional dance from their state of Ohaca. It was a priceless experience for everyone and has forever changed my life," said Dixon.
The groups exchanged small gifts with one another and the American teachers were showered with presents and certificates from the school and the Mayor of Cancun.
The American dancers went on to perform their one hour recital in Playa Del Carmen, Parque Des Palapes and at the theater in the Grand Caribe Real Resort. They also took day trips to Isla Mujeres to snorkel, to Xel Ha, an ecological theme park, and to Tulum to see the ancient Mayan ruins. Most of the students were accompanied by some or all of their immediate family members, which brought the group to over 120 travelers.
The entire cost for the trip was a reasonable $1,500 for adults and under $1,000 for the children and included all meals, drinks, transportations, and tours. Dancers' families participated in fundraisers all year to keep up with the installments due every other month. The dance school would like to participate in another cultural exchange someday in another country as this trip was such a success. Greece, Bermuda, and Australia are being discussed.
Click here to view photos from the trip!
February 18, 2006 - IMPACT Dance Company performed Saturday, February 18, 2006 at the Easter Seals Telethon at Elgin Community College. The Telethon was broadcast on local cable.
Click play to watch!!
Studio Flyers
- 2006 Dance Camps (posted 4/10/06)
- Street Steppin' Salsa (posted 3/22/05)
- Dance Party - Did you know that Dixon Dance Academy offers personalized birthday parties in our West Dundee Studios? Each two-hour party, filled with birthday fun and entertainment, is bound to leave a truly unforgettable impression on any young dancer.... (updated 12/08/04)
- Rehearsal Space Available - Dixon Dance Academy, located in the heart of the Fox Valley, currently has rehearsal space available for use by area theatre and dance companies.... (updated 12/08/04)
(847) 836-5678 
www.dixondanceacademy.com