Community Corner

East Brunswick Dancers Take Top Honors at Regional Competitions

Allison Hoeni, Hannah Habib, Charmayne Jerman and Jasmine Jerman are all part of the Special Kays Competitive Dance Team.

Special Kays received numerous high-level awards at its first two competitions of the season: National Dance Showcase (NDS) (Lancaster, Pa.) on March 8-10 and American Dance Awards (ADA) (Lawrence Township) on March 15-17. Celebrating its 25th year, Special Kays is a non-profit, nationally recognized competitive dance team of the New Jersey Center of Dance (NJCOD) & Performing Arts.

The team received 32 platinum (highest level) awards, as well as special judges awards and first place overall for many of its solo, duo/trio and group dance numbers at NDS. At ADA, Special Kays received those accolades in addition to 11 ultimate gold (highest level) awards for its solo, duo/trio and group dance numbers.

At NDS, Kendall Deal (Monroe Township) and Nicole Rubino (Millstone Township), received platinum awards in the Petite Solo category (8 years old and under). Kendall Deal also received first place overall in that category. In the Petite Duo/Trio category, Chase Jansen (Monroe Township) and Kendall Deal were awarded a platinum, as well as first place overall.

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In the Junior Solo category (9-12 year old), Sophia Abene (Monroe Township) received a platinum for her solo, as well as a special judges award for "tremendous tricks," first place overall high score, and "Best of NDS" award for having the highest scoring entry of the entire competition.

Julianna Allen (Old Bridge) and Jordan Watson (Cream Ridge) received a platinum and first place overall in that category. In addition to those two awards, Kailey Kocur (Millstone Township) received a special judges award for "sensational storytelling."

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Chayse DePalma (Millstone Township) and Allison Hoeni (East Brunswick) also received a platinum, as well as a special judges award for "living every moment" (DePalma) and "beautiful lines" (Hoeni). Allison Bailey (Monroe Township), Gabby Mannarino (Old Bridge) and Kavita O’Keefe (Princeton) also received a platinum award in that category.

In the Junior Duo/Trio category (9-12 year old), Veronica Faustino (Old Bridge), Allison Hoeni (East Brunswick) and Kailey Kocur (Millstone Township) received a platinum and first place overall.

Veronica Faustino (Old Bridge) and Hannah Habib (East Brunswick) also won a platinum and first place overall in the category for their number. Brendan Griggs (Millstone Township) and Briana Shifrin (Cream Ridge) received a platinum award in that category as well.

In the Teen Solo category (13-15 year old), Amanda Capasso (Jackson) received a platinum, first place in the category and first place overall high score. Mackenzie Brennan (Millstone Township.) received a platinum and special judges award for "amazing control."

Jasmine Jerman (East Brunswick), Cayla McLaughlin (Millstone Township) and Rachel Masci (Millstone Township) also received platinum awards for their solo performances.

In the Teen Duos/Trios category (13-15 year old), Amanda Capasso (Jackson), Charmayne Jerman (East Brunswick) and Jasmine Jerman (East Brunswick) received a platinum and first place overall high score.

In the Senior Solos category (17+ year old), Charmayne Jerman (East Brunswick) received a platinum and special judges award for "passion plus."
The team also won 10 platinum awards for small and large group numbers including "Baby" (8 year old and under), which also received a special judges award for "we fell in love with you from the very first baby," first place overall high score and junior dance-off champion. "Animal" (13-15 year old) also received a platinum, special judges award for "fabulously fierce," first place overall high score and the "NDS Senior Impact" award.

At ADA, in the Petite Duos/Trio category (7-9 year old), Chase Jansen (Monroe Township) and Kendall Deal (Monroe Township) received an ultimate gold, first place overall high score and special judges award for "perfect partners." In the Junior Solo category (10-12 year old), Sophia Abene (Monroe Township) received an ultimate gold.

In the Teen Solo category (13-16 year old), Jasmine Jerman (East Brunswick) and Amanda Capasso (Jackson) received an ultimate gold award. In the Teen Duos/Trios category (13-16 year old), Amanda Capasso (Jackson), Charmayne Jerman (East Brunswick) and Jasmine Jerman (East Brunswick) received a ultimate gold and were the overall high score winners in the category.

The team also won five ultimate gold awards for small and large group numbers including "Baby" (7-9 year old), which also received first place overall high score and special judges award for "most entertaining." "That's Right" (10-12 year old) also received first place overall high score and a special judges award for "Kool dudes."

“Special Kays is excited to be starting its competition season so strong,” said Linda Kay Griggs, director, Special Kays resident dance team for the New Jersey Center of Dance & Performing Arts. “It’s so gratifying to see the choreographers’ and dancers’ hard work being recognized.”

For more information about New Jersey Center of Dance & Performing Arts or Special Kays, visit www.njcodance.com.

-Special Kays Competitive Dance Team


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