![]() In the future, Emily says she wants to be a professional dancer and an actress. She is working on her landing for a backhand spring (legs are to be together coming down) and is working on the “tuck,” a backflip using no hands. “This encourages me to try harder to beat the competition next time and learn new tricks.” “I was glad I placed fifth overall, but also grumpy because I wanted a bigger trophy,” Emily explained. Emily admitted she was three-tenths of a point away from receiving a Double Platinum medal at the national competition. In competitions, competitors are awarded medals, based on accumulated points. Judging is based on how good the dance is to the type it is. “The instructors do a really good job at teaching all types of dance.”ĭance categories include hip-hop, musical theater, jazz, acrobatic, character and folk lure (belly dancing). “I am surprised at what Emily can do,” Audrey stated. “Acting is so much fun.”Īudrey, Emily’s mother, danced for Missy Trainer, the owner of Starstruck Dance and Tumbling, when she was a youth. “I plan to continue competing the character category because I get to act,” she said. Caleb also participates in the routines.Įmily’s favorite category to participate in is acrobatic, followed by jazz and then character and contemporary. “My brother (Caleb) and I go to grandmas and make up dances,” she laughed. She will move the furniture around and practice in the living room. With the help of her instructor, ideas Emily wants included are in the routine.Īlong with the time in the gym, she also has fun at home. Emily explained, she learns a new part of the routine and memorizes that portion then adds the next part. She practices at least seven hours a week at the Starstruck facility, located in the old YMCA building on Moody Ave. NEXT SEASONĭuring the off season, Emily is learning two new solo routines, one for the character category and a contemporary routine. She is also a member of the “Me & My Girls” group who add a jazz dance element to the routine. They do backhand springs, aerials and other tricks in alignment. The “Jungle Warriors” is comprised of six students who perform a character routine with acrobatic elements. Not only does Emily participate in solo competition, she does two dance routines with other Starstruck Dance students. She placed first in character and second overall. She also competed in the Creation Competition at Independence in May. In the individual categories, she placed first in floor routine and vault, second on beam and 11th on bars. She competed in Canal Fulton in May and placed first overall in her age group. Emily competes in the floor routine, balance beam, vault and the low bar on the uneven bars. The students can also learn gymnastics if they choose. She enjoyed the first two years of training and by her fourth year, was asked to do a solo routine. “Tricks” are moves such as the aerial (cartwheel with no hands), backhand springs, chest roll, and more. They begin learning the basics at that age and start attempting tricks at age six. BEGINNING DANCEĮmily began dancing with Starstruck Dance and Tumbling when she was three years old. She was competing against girls not only from Ohio, but from out-of-state and Canada. The first competition of the season, Emily placed first in character and 14th out of 71 overall. ![]() The competition season is over (it runs January – June) and Emily is working on anew routine with a new character and music. Plus she has blue hair.”ĭuring her routine, Emily used a mirror as a prop like Evie. “I was taught at a young age about beauty. “I chose Evie because she is all about fashion and style,” Emily explained. She is great at creating her own fashions and can communicate with her magic mirror.” ![]() The Disney website describes Evie as, “the daughter of the Evil Queen. She chose Evie from the Disney show “The Descendents”. Routines are usually 2 minutes and 45 seconds to three minutes long. There are 12 different types of dance in the competitions. She also competes in the open category where participants can do all types of dance. This category required her to use dance, acrobatics and tumbling to act out a character. Emily place first in the character category. The fifth place honor was achieved by combining the scores of the different categories for her age group in the finals. Grove competed in the Showstoppers National Finals in Sandusky the end of June and placed fifth overall in the nation out of 55 competitors in the 9-11 age group. Not only is she able to bend, tuck, roll and flip, she is very articulate in explaining what dance competitions involve. ![]() The energetic, flexible 10-year old, can walk-the-walk and talk-the-talk. To say Emily Grove likes dance is an understatement. By Leigh Ann Rutledge Accent EditorĮmily Grove does a chin stand in competition. Emily Grove does a chin stand in competition.
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