The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Sisters Dance Academy turned in potent performances at major national competitions last month.

Sisters Dance Academy, owned and directed by local Sisters resident Lonnie Liddell, currently has six competitive dance teams, comprised of 30 dancers ranging in ages from 10 to 18 years old. The dancers compete in the styles of hip-hop, contemporary, and jazz and are coached by Kayla Williams and Shannon Abero Guerrero.

This year the Sisters Dance Teams have competed in two national competitions: Energy, which was held the first weekend of April in Vancouver, Washington, and Thunderstruck, held the third weekend of April at the Portland Convention Center. In both the Energy and Thunderstruck competitions, the Sisters dancers came away with very high scores and some outstanding honors.

The Senior Hip-Hop Squad, comprised of Hope Beckwith, Brooke Blakelock, Brooke Liddell, Kailey Mannhalter, Kamryn Osborne, and Mackenzi Reed, ranked first overall in their age bracket and division for their routine “Comin’ in Hot,” choreographed by Shannon Abero Guerrero. This team was also awarded the Eye of the Storm Award from Thunderstruck for the “Most Entertaining Performance” of the whole competition.

This team has been invited to attend the Thunderstruck Finals International Competition to be held in Las Vegas July 2022 and awarded a $400 scholarship.

During the Energy competition, the same team scored Platinum and again ranked first overall in their age level and division.

In the senior duets/trios category, a hip-hop duet by Kamryn Osborn and Mackenzi Reed also won first overall for their routine “Get Low,” choreographed by Shannon Abero Guerrero and the senior contemporary duet by Hope Beckwith and Emily Huber came in second overall for their routine “Medicine,” which they choreographed together. Hope and Emily also received the MC’s Stand Out Award for this routine.

The team’s Junior and Senior Ensemble (ages 12-18) was awarded a $1,000 scholarship to attend the Energy Nationals competition in San Diego, California, in June, and was invited to attend the Energy Elite Experience in New York City, taking place at the world renowned Broadway Dance Center, where they can meet and talk with leading agents and recruiters, attend two Broadway shows, meet the cast, and take a class from the Rockettes.

Marc Sico, Thunderstruck Media

Sisters Dance Team Senior Hip Hop Squad, comprised of Hope Beckwith, Brooke Blakelock, Brooke Liddell, Kailey Mannhalter, Kamryn Osborne, and Mackenzi Reed.

Energy also awarded The Sisters Dance Academy with the Studio Excellence Award, which is presented to the studio that displays the most spirit, enthusiasm, and excellent sportsmanship during the competition and is now nationally recognized by the Association of Dance Competitions and Conventions. The Sisters Dance teams will be competing in one more regional competition held in Springfield, called “Turn it Up,” the third weekend of May.

The Sisters Dance teams will be performing in a special showcase held at Sisters High School on Friday, May 13 at 7 p.m.

Tickets will be sold at the door for $10 per person and this event will have open seating.

The Sisters Dance Academy’s end-of-year performance, showcasing all dancers ages 3 to adult, will be held on Saturday, June 18 at Sisters High School.

There will be a matinee show at 1 p.m.

and an evening show at 6:30 p.m.

with the engaging theme “Movies, Musicals, and Masterpieces.” Tickets for reserved seating as well as live-steaming tickets for this event go on sale Monday, May 16.

For more details visit www.danceinsisters.com.