Dancers take home awards in competitive dance season | News, Sports, Jobs

Photo provided to the Times Observer. Members of the Molly Dies Dance Express Competition Team include front row Harper Jones, Carly Olsen, Taylor Alexander, Alice Pearson, Adeline Amsdell and Lillian Wellner; second row Kadyn Moore, Anne Lin, Noel Alexander, Rocco Siliano, Hannah Gentz, Rylee Steffan and Katelyn Jurkowski; and back row Lara Pearson, Abby Gens, Sarah Tome, Ella Solberg, Izzy McMonigal and Emelyn Moore.

The 2024 season was a busy one for the dancers of Molly Dies’ Dance Express Competition Team.

These included regional tournaments, including two in Youngstown, Ohio, Buffalo, New Castle, Hamburg, New York and Erie.

It also included a trip to Honolulu.

“We love what we do here at MDDE and it shows every time these dancers step on stage.” Molly Dies Geer, director of the company, said:

Geer said the competition team consisted of 19 dancers who performed a total of 35 dance routines in a variety of styles, from lyrical to jazz, tap, contemporary to musical, in different formats – solo, duet, trio, small group and large group.

“The scores, the special judges’ prizes and the overall highest scores for these dances were awarded at each competition by three professional dance judges,” said Geer.

The list of awards? Entertainment awards, technical awards, showmanship awards, choreography awards, highest score awards, highest overall score awards, special jury awards, team awards and a range of medal colours.

“The dancers and choreographers train for months in pre-competition format and in competition classes/rehearsals/performances,” said Geer.

“The love, passion, dedication and discipline that these dancers show for themselves, their team, their hometown and their art is simply impressive to watch,” said Geer. “It’s a great journey and I’m glad to be doing it with them. We all love watching them dance and they represent so well.”

In addition to all the outstanding awards, the group received several “Title” Winners of their regional competitions include Rocco Siliano, Noel Alexander, Carly Olsen, Lara Pearson and Lillian Wellner.

“The whole company spends so much time in and out of the studio,” This said. “We are very proud of these dancers and the time they put in. From open studio to weekend rehearsals and days off school. They all work so hard and their hard work shows, no matter what the award.”