MEMBERS of a local dance company took the stage by storm at the Starquest International Dance Competition’s World Finals in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Between them, the six young hopefuls representing the Live 2 Dance school in Nassau took home several top awards, special recognition from the judges and the first place overall dance-off trophy.

The team earned the coveted spot at the finals thanks to their performance of the regional competition in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in April, where representing the Bahamas, they earned many high scores – stunning their teacher and school owner, Nonny Cartwright.

During the six-day World Final, the group took part in several master dance classes while competing against dancers from all over the world.

First to compete was Stemarciae “Suggy” Bain. She performed a solo Jazz Dance routine, “Wonderland” and earned a Platinum Award – the highest medal in the contest.

Second to compete were Jacob Cartwright and Beth Macre, performing their tap duet “Brokenhearted”, and they also won a Platinum Award as well as a special award from the judges for their “class and confidence”.

The pair went on to be announced as the first place overall duet/trio in their age division.

Third to compete was charlotte Nevins, who performed a musical theatre-style solo routine, “Show Off” which also earned a Platinum Award.

On the second day of the competition, Daniella Macre earned another Platinum for her jazz dance solo, “Watch Me”.

She also earned a special award from the judges for “commanding the stage”.

Christa Russell then performed “Tightrope”, a tap dance solo routine, earning yet another Platinum Medal and second place in the overall tap solo competition in her age division.

On day’s three and four, the dancers spent time in classes with master dance teachers from around the world.

They also attended a party with the other competitors and had a great time meeting and having fun with dancers from around the world.

On day five, the group competed their jazz and tap group routines.

The jazz routine, “Roll The Dice”, received a Platinum Award and the special award for “Star Quality”. The judges said: “If these kids keep dancing together, they will be unstoppable!”

This routine was awarded the Third Place Overall Junior Small Group prize of the competition.

Their tap routine, “Chocolate” received a Platinum Award and was announced as the First Place Overall Junior Small Group of the competition.

The rules of the competition state that the top three studios must compete in a final dance-off on the 6th and final day.

Since both “Roll The Dice” and “Chocolate’” were among the top three dances, the team was only allowed to enter “Chocolate” (1st place overall), while the school with the fourth placed routine was elevated to third for the dance-off.

In the end, the Bahamian team won the day – earning the First Place Overall Trophy.

As part of the final awards ceremony, Jacob and Christa were two of only 10 dancers out of the 6,000 who competed to be recognised by the judges and master class teachers for their focus and eagerness to learn.

The group’s teacher and Live 2 Dance studio owner, Nonny Cartwright, decided to put the group together in September 2011 because she wanted to expose young Bahamian dancers to the outside world.

“I want the students of Live 2 Dance to be inspired by the dance community in other parts of the world and realise that they can become whatever they want to be,” she said.

“I feel that a lot of times, the youth in smaller countries get the feeling that it can’t happen for them, because they aren’t exposed to it”.

After an extensive professional dance career, Mrs Cartwright said she discovered her true passion in giving back and inspiring people, young and old, to discover and fall in love with the art of dance. “Of all the things I have done as a professional dancer, working with pop stars, rock stars, being seen in music videos, commercials and films, nothing compares to the joy I feel when I watch my students dance,” she said. “The feeling is overwhelming.”

Mrs Cartwright said she is hosting a registration day for new students on Saturday, August 31, from 10am–4pm at Live to Dance in the Shirley Street Plaza, three doors down from the old BTC location.