All That Jazz Dance Co. had an amazing time in London this past weekend competing in the “En Pointe & Just Dance” dance competition. The competition is truly unique because it has two parts to the competition. The first part of the competition – “En Pointe” – divides participants according to the ballet grade level they are currently studying. The competition has found that by dividing participant’s in this way ensures that dancers compete against dancers of equal ability and has proven to be a more fair experience! Another facet of the festival provides participants a more fair assessment of their performance is the “Technical Element”. Each ballet soloist is asked to perform a required specific step, after their category has completed dancing. The competiiton judges invite the dancers back on stage to perform the step one at a time. It constitutes 10% of the soloists final mark.

At En Pointe & Just Dance they also rank the scores a bit differently. All the dancers receive a charm bracelet when they arrive and for each dance competed they receive a placement charm. The “Just Dance” ranking is self-explanatory — they spell the word “DANCE” with their charms! A “D” charm stands for “Dynamic” and represents a score of 93% and higher. The “A” charm stands for “Awesome” and is for a score of 91.5-92.9%, “N” if for a mark between 90-91.4% and is “Nicely Done”, a “C” charm stands for “Charisma” and is for a mark of 85-89.9% and an “E” charm – “Excellent” – is for 84.9% and under. For the En Pointe ballet portion of the competition your performance is ranked according to names of individuals who have significantly contributed to the ballet world such as Sergei Diaghilev, Anna Pavlova, Vaslav Nijinsky, Celia Franca, and Erik Bruhn. Not only was the competition truly unique but all the dancers at the competition were commended several times for their sportsmanship! The backstage manager said that as kids were coming off stage they were saying “good luck” to the next group and the next group was congratulating the group that just danced! The entire weekend was truly enjoyable and just an all around “nice” competition!

After the success of the Shine Dance Competition in Chatham a few weeks ago ATJ owner and director Lisa Lester-Harris decided to email the conveners of the “En Pointe and Just Dance” competition to see if they would consider coming to Chatham in the future. This past weekend the conveners told Lisa that they will be coming to the Chatham Capital theatre next year! They said that the email was a sign since they had just decided to try and pick up another city for the competition! Chatham it is! What great news for our city!

All That Jazz Scores from En Pointe and Just Dance

All That Jazz Dance Co. had a great time! Not only did the dancers have fun but the scores were ATJ’s best ever! The ATJ dancer’s charm bracelets were full of charms. ATJ received 33 Dynamics (93% and over), 15 Awesome Awards, 8 Nicely Done Awards, and 3 Charisma Awards for their 59 entries. The studio also received 13 Special Awards, 4 Overall High Score Awards and 2 Adjudicators Choice Awards. All the ATJ Dancers did an amazing job!

A special congratulations go out to the following: the ATJ junior competitive team for receiving an Overall High Score for junior group/line with a score of 95.4 for their hip hop number “Fire On the Dancefloor”, the ATJ Force for receiving a score of 95.6 for their tap number “Iko Iko” and Overall High Score for Intermediate Group/Line, the Senior Performance Team for receiving 94.3 and Overall High Score for a Novice Group/Line for their musical theatre number “Be Italian”, ATJ’s Madison Hetherington for receiving 95.4 for her solo “Your Song” and the Overall High Score for Intermediate Soloist, the Teen Competitive Team’s hip hop number “Monster” for receiving Adjudicators Choice for the best Hip Hop at the competition, the Senior Competitive Team’s Modern number “In For the Kill” for receiving Adjudicators Choice for the best Modern number at the competition and the ATJ Fleet for receiving ATJ’s highest mark of 95.85 for their production number “New York” .

ATJ Proudly Presents Superstars 2012

Saturday May 5th – 2pm and 7pm and Sunday May 6th – 1pm and 6pm
Tickets are available at ATJ – Adults $20, Kids 12 and under $15
At the Pines Theatre!

All That Jazz Dance Co. took home top marks and awards this past weekend at the Shine Dance Competition at the Capital theatre.

ATJ’s 10 dance teams took home 19 diamond awards (93-100), 23 platinum awards (90-92.99) and 19 high gold awards (87-89.99) including 7 special awards, 5 overall high scores and 3 Judge’s Choice awards for their 61entries.

ATJ’s Senior Dance Team took home diamond awards in every category (hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, jazz) and Overall High Score Awards for their hip hop dance “Green Goblin” and their contemporary dance “In for the Kill”. “In For the Kill” also received a judge’s choice award for it’s amazing attack.

The ATJ Mini Competitive Team received top marks and a special award entitled “best hip hop of the weekend” for their “Gangsta” hip hop number.

The ATJ Force received top marks and a judges choice award for their contemporary piece “Lights”. They also received a diamond award for their lyrical piece “Imagine”, a diamond for their jazz piece “Sexy Silk” and top marks for their contemporary piece “Sail”. “Sail” also received an Overall High Score award.

The ATJ Fleet hip hop number “Boogie Shoes” received a Judges Choice Award and top marks for having the total package – high energy, age appropriate costumes and suitable choreography for young dancers.

The highlight for the ATJ competitive teams was performing their production hip hop number “RETRO JAM”. It received a diamond and a special award for it’s amazing intensity and the ability to get the crowd going It was the the only number of the weekend that received a standing ovation from the New York judges. All 50 dancers in the high energy hip hop number should be very proud of their performance!

ATJ’s teachers are very proud of all of the students and would like to thank the dancers and parents for their dedication and hard work!! All 61 ATJ entries were choreographed by ATJ’s own teachers who all live in the great city of Chatham. The ATJ competitive choreography was all done by the following ATJ instructors: Chris Rich, Emily Kennedy, Lisa Lester-Harris, Brianna Cernanec and Paige Eddie. GREAT WORK!! GREAT WEEKEND!! Way to go ATJ!!

Competitive Level 2: (Diamond 93.0 – 100, Platinum 90.0-92.99, High Gold 87-89.99)

Competitive Combined Numbers:
Diamond – Retro Jam (Lisa’s competitive hip hop production) 94.36 and Special Award
Diamond – Ode to Nature (Em’s Competitive Junior/Teen/Senior Contemporary Production) 93.68
High Gold – Another One Bites the Dust (Lisa’s teen/senior tap) 89.1

Minis:
Diamond – Gangsta (Lisa’s Mini Comp Hip Hop) 93.527 Special Award & 3rd Overall High Score
Platinum – Night Fever (Bri’s Mini Comp Jazz) 90.373
Platinum Battle of New Orleans (Lisa’s mini comp tap) 90.007

Juniors:
Platinum – Fire On the Dancefloor (Lisa’s Junior Comp Hip Hop) 91.46
High Gold – The Garden (Bri’s Junior Comp Jazz) 88.92
High Gold – Puttin’ On the Ritz (Lisa’s Junior Comp Tap) 89.213

Teen:
Diamond – To Build A Home (Em’s Teen Comp Contemporary) 93.16
Platinum – Monster (Em’s Teen Comp Hip Hop) 91.993
Platinum – Deadly Infatuation (Chris’ Teen Comp Lyrical) 91.287
Platinum – Brighter Day (Chris’ Teen Comp Jazz) 91.197

Senior:
Diamond – Green Goblin (Em’s Senior Comp Hip Hop) 93.987 2nd Overall High Score
Diamond – In For the Kill (Em’s Sr Comp Cont) 93.74 3rd Overall High Score & Special Award
Diamond – O’ Death (Chris’ Senior Comp Lyrical) 93.473
Diamond – It’s About That Walk (Chris’ Senior Comp Jazz) 93.38

Fleet:
Platinum – Drunken Sailor (Lisa’s Fleet mini/junior tap) 91.72
Diamond – Boogie Shoes (Lisa’s Fleet mini/junior Hip Hop) 93.067 – Judges Choice
High Gold – Wicked Little Girls (Bri’s Fleet Mini/Junior Jazz) 89.12
High Gold – Gold Digger (Lisa’s Fleet Mini/Junior Hip Hop) 88.487
Platinum – New York (Em’s Fleet Jazz Production) 91.68
High Gold – At the Ball (Chris’ Fleet Ballet) 87.513
Platinum – Women Power (Lisa’s Fleet Open Production) 92.58
High Gold – Get Outta Your Mind (Em & Lisa’s Fleet Teen/Senior Hip Hop) 87.453
Platinum – Every Breath You Take (Em’s Fleet Teen/Senior Contemporary) 91.85
Platinum – Tragedy (Chris’ Fleet Lyrical) 90.707

Force:
Diamond – Sail (Em’s Selected Force Contemporary) 94.08 & special award & 3rd Overall High Sc
Diamond – Imagine (Chris’ Force Lyrical) 93.553
Diamond – Lights (Em’s Force Contemporary) 93.41 and Judges Choice
Diamond -Sexy Silk (Em’s Selected Force Jazz) 93.087
Platinum – Iko Iko (Lisa’s Force Tap) 92.353
Platinum – Freak (Em’s Force jazz) 92.08
Platinum – True Colours (Chris’ Selected Force Lyrical) 91.92
Platinum – Paris (Lisa’s Force Hip Hop) 91.487

Solos, Duets & Trios:
Jar of Hearts (Chris’ Lyrical Solo – comp level 2) 93.01 – Diamond and Special Award
Life of the Party (Chris’ Jazz Solo – novice) 88.887 – Platinum
Cannibal (Em’s Jazz Duet – comp level 2) 93.427 – Diamond
Feeling Good (Chris’ Jazz Solo- comp level 2) 92.073 – Platinum
Your Song (Em’s Lyrical Solo- comp level 2) 94.44 – Diamond
Beautiful People (Lisa’s Jazz Duet- comp level 2) 90.907 – Platinum and 3rd Overall High Score
Don’t Stop (Bri’s Tap Trio- novice) 89.7 – Platinum
Breathe Again (Chris’ Lyrical Solo-comp level 2) 93.34 – Diamond
99 Red Balloons (Lisa’s Jazz Trio- nov) 92.027 – Diamond – Special Award & 3rd Overall High Sc.
Knee Deep (Lisa’s Tap Duet-novice) 90.427 – Platinum
Don’t Rain on My Parade (Bri’s Musical Theatre Solo – comp level 2) 89.047 – High Gold
Calling All the Monsters (Paige’s jazz solo – comp level 2) 88.153 – High Gold
Wonderwall (Em’s Contemporary Trio – comp level 2) 94.12 – Diamond
She Owns the Night (Paige’s Hip Hop Solo – novice) 85.913 – High Gold

Competitive Level 1: (diamond 91 – 100, Platinum 88-90.99, High Gold 84.00-87.9)

Teen Performance Team:
I Found A Reason (Bri’s Teen Perf Lyrical) 87.74 – High Gold
When I’m Dancin (Bri’s Teen Perf Jazz) 87.833 – High Gold
If There Was No You (Bri’s Teen Perf Contemporary) 86.44 – High Gold
I Want It All (Bri’s Teen Perf Hip Hop) 85.853 – High Gold

Senior Performance Team:
Bowtie (Bri’s Senior Perf Hip Hop) 86.63 – High Gold
Over the Rainbow (Bri’s Senior Perf Lyrical) 86.973 – High Gold
Can Can (Bri’s Senior Perf Jazz) 88.013 – Platinum
Be Italian (Bri’s Senior Perf Musical Theatre) 90.547 – Platinum and Special Award

Junior Performance Team:
Fast Food Fiesta (Lisa’s and Karlee’s Junior Perf Tap) 85.707 – High Gold
Stereo Hearts (Lisa’s Junior Perf Hip Hop) 86.7 – High Gold
Shake Your Tail Feather (Bri’s Junior Perf Jazz) 85. 987 – High Gold

Novice Munchkin: (same scoring system as comp level 1)
Wind It Up (Lisa’s Precomp Hip Hop) 88.793 – Platinum

Totals:
Diamonds – 19
Platinums – 23
High Golds – 19

All That Jazz Dance Company is pleases to announce our summer 2012 dance schedule. A fun high-energy dance program where students prepare for a summer show by taking weekly classes. The summer show is held in Tecumseh Park and is tentatively scheduled for Friday, August 31st @ 6pm.

For the full schedule and fees, visit our 2012 Summer Dance Program page here.

Congratulations ATJ Dancers!! You all did a tremendous job and we are very proud of you!! If you don’t get on the team you were aiming for don’t give up – keep on dancing hard and focus on becoming the best dancer you can be!

Everyone’s name should be listed on one of the team’s below. If you do not see your name please contact the studio.

Please direct any questions to the office: info@allthatjazzdanceco.net
519-351-5299

2011-2012 Selected Precompetitive Group

Miss Lisa has chosen young dancers to join this group that exhibit strong skills and the potential to be on a competitive dance team in the future. The focus of this group over the year is to develop strong technical skills and have fun. If Miss Lisa feels they are ready they will compete their best number at the Shine competition March 2012. Most dancers chosen to be in this group are mailed an invitation.

Invites go out to: Amanda Labadie, Serenity Cassibo, Sydney Piatkowski, Lucy Marsh, Lucie Maine, Rosie Walker, Pauline Bueneventura, Kaelyn Chandler, Maya Adams, Aeowyn Dunlop, Rachel Tewksbury, Taryn Seney, Kenzie Lahey, Olivia Todino, Seirrah Deacon, Samantha Lozon, Kali McDonald, Jaden Funke, Harley Forrest-Lock, Emily Goetheyn, Grace Hamilton, Jayla Beemer, Maxine Lieder, Scotia Lambe, Sophia Botero, Jayde Melhuish-McGahan, Khara Arnold-Cowley, Julia & Victoria Capp, Isabella French, Mia Wright, Sadie Hamilton, Jaden Viazon, Olivia Corbin

Space is limited to 15 spots – please reserve your spot as early as possible.

2011-2012 Mini Competitive Team:

Kiana Collier, Jocelyn Dowdall, Tessa Cumming, Angelique Corbin, Taylor Ball, Morgan Harris, Madison Harris, Madison Mailloux, Jessica Oxley, Marissa Nunez, Olivia Merriam-Bell, Marcy Shaw, Kayla Argenti, Emelia Zruna, Lauryn Lahey, Lily Dixon

**Please note some mini team members will be asked to do extra catch-up classes the month before regular classes start. Schedule TBA August 10th, 2011. Miss Lisa should have already contacted you if you are required to come for extra classes.

2011-2012 Junior Performance Team

Nicole Paine, Destiny Chenier-Gernaey, Olivia Amato, Riley Farquharson, Abbey Piatkowski, Zoe Walker, Abbie Balics, Hannah Wheeler, Kacey Day, Ryan Brooks, Alexis Hewitt, Taylor Bertotti

2011-2012 Junior Competitive Team

Karis Bechard, Carson Lyons, Reilly Fitzmorris, Kalyn Nicholson, Abbey Polowick, Bailey Arnold, Janelle Segeren, Brooke Cartier, Ashlyn Cormier, Laura King, Emilia Rota-Walker, Rachel Fleury, Emily Zimmer, Megan Topping, Logan Topping, Jordan Nead, Alexa Wolsing

2011-2012 Teen Performance Team

Rebecca Postma, Erica Carr, Hailee Ballantyne, Emma Burk, Emily Broad, Abbie Sellen, Kaitlyn Rota, Ashley Grogan, Maddison Balics, Britney Bonner-Green, Samantha Toscani, Miranda Ostapec, Alex Haskell, Megan Brady, Meaghan Lyons

 2011-2012 Teen Competitive Team

Molly Walker, Emma Hammond, Kennedy Glasier, Julia Tremblay, Dharma Glasier, Victoria Baertsoen, Caitlyn McCauley, Taylor Oulds, Cameryn Rybansky, Manuela Carmona, Mackenna Lyons, Shelby Mackness, Chloe Lucier, Clare Corchis, Reegan Peel

 2011-2012 Senior Performance Team

Rachel Smith, Danielle Coleman, Sarah Donais, Abigail Ward, Claudia Jarosz, Samantha Griffith, Rebecca Brooks, Sarah Sinclair, Makayla McDonald, Kelsea Dinga

2011-2012 Senior Competitive Team

Stacia Pepper, Brianna Cernanec, Karlee Cockburn, Quieanna Park-Davis, Madison Hetherington, Leighara Rajsigl, Amber Frak, Paige Glasier, Taylor Tremblay, Celene Ceccacci, Cassidy Brady

Please note: The ATJ Staff has decided to give Performance Team members the opportunity to do Level II extra numbers as well to help improve their dance skills. Saturday classes will include one hour of technique for level II dancers.

Level II – The ATJ Dance Fleet:

Schedule to be announced August 10th, 2011

Kiana Collier, Angelique Corbin, Jocelyn Dowdall, Madison Mailloux, Jessica Oxley, Marissa Nunez, Taylor Ball, Tessa Cumming, Madison Harris, Morgan Harris, Olivia Merriam-Bell, Carson Lyons, Jordan Nead, Ashlyn Cormier, Reilly Fitzmorris, Alexa Wolsing, Logan Topping, Megan Topping, Kalyn Nicholson, Karis Bechard, Janelle Segeren, Rachel Fleury, Zoe Walker, Riley Farquharson, Kennedy Glasier, Reegan Peel, Emma Hammond, Chloe Lucier, Clare Corchis, Victoria Baertsoen, Shelby Mackness, Mackenna Lyons, Caitlyn McCauley, Molly Walker, Dharma Glasier, Cameryn Rybansky, Manuela Carmona, Meaghan Lyons, Ashley Grogan, Kaitlyn Rota, Megan Brady, Alex Haskell, Emily Broad, Britney Bonner-Green, Erica Carr, Karlee Cockburn, Brianna Cernanec, Stacia Pepper, Paige Glasier, Madison Hetherington, Queianna Park-Davis, Celene Ceccacci, Leighara Rajsigl, Amber Frak, Makayla McDonald, Sarah Sinclair, Kelsea Dinga, Cassidy Brady, Rebecca Brooks, Abigail Ward

Level III – The ATJ Dance Force:

Schedule to be announced August 10th, 2011.

Karis Bechard, Janelle Segeren, Kennedy Glasier, Reegan Peel, Emma Hammond, Chloe Lucier, Clare Corchis, Victoria Baertsoen, Shelby Mackness, Mackenna Lyons, Caitlyn McCauley, Molly Walker, Dharma Glasier, Karlee Cockburn, Brianna Cernanec, Stacia Pepper, Paige Glasier, Madison Hetherington, Leighara Rajsigl

 **Please note: If you have been chosen to be on an ATJ Dance Team, The ATJ Fleet (Level II) and/or The ATJ Force and feel you cannot commit for the 2011-2012 dance year, please let the studio know as soon as possible.

2011-2012 recreational dance classes begin Sept. 12-17/2011, here’s a look at our full schedule:

Read more

All dancers wishing to try out for an ATJ dance team must fill out this audition sheet so we are aware of your goals for the 2011-2012 dance year. This form is due by June 1st, 2011

To audition for a team (performance or competitive) you must attend a dance intensive. If you are unsure of which intensive to attend please email Lisa at info@allthatjazzdanceco.net. All Intensives run Mon-Fri 9am-4pm. Auditions Fri 2pm.

• Mini Dance Intensive – July 4-8
• 2011 Junior Dance Intensive – July 11-15
• Teen Dance Intensive – July 18-22, 2011
• Senior Dance Intensive – July 25-29, 2011

For more information on the levels and fees,  please visit the competitive team page here.

All That Jazz Presents…

Superstars 2011 Gracious Hearts!

Shows – Pines Theatre
Friday, May 27th at 6:30 pm
Saturday, May 28th at 11 am, 3 pm and 7 pm

Tickets – $15 each @ ATJ – 66 Fourth St. – 519.351.5299

The Shine Dance Competition, held at the Capital Theatre April 9th and 10th, was a great success!! All the competitors danced well and had fun!! The competition was well run and the scores were close. 11 of our 46 dances scored less than 2 % away from the top score of the entire competition. I am so proud of all the dancers!!

Highlights:

• ATJ instructor Emily Kennedy received the Choreography Choice of the Day Award on Saturday for her modern piece “Gabriel”
• ATJ instructor Christopher Rich received the Choreography Choice of the Day Award on Sunday for his lyrical piece “Possibility”
• ATJ dancer Madison Hetherington received the Young Choreography Award and a scholarship worth $950
• ATJ dancer Chloe Lucier received Overall High Score for her solo “White Horse” at the junior competitive level
• ATJ teams received 11 Overall High Score Awards at the competition and 10 special awards including 2 judges choice awards

ATJ competitive dancers had the best weekend ever at Shawn Desman’s Competition April 1-3 in Toronto.

His competition entitled “MOVE – The Ultimate Dance Competition” was a blast.

The kids thoroughly enjoyed having the famous pop star be their host for the weekend and got the chance to take class from “So You Think You Can Dance” hip hop choreographer Luther Brown on the Sunday morning. ATJ did awesome. What made this dance competition unique was that there was a round robin type finals on Sunday in which each studio’s top numbers moved on to compete.

Madison Hetherington and Stacia Pepper moved on to finals with their solos. ATJ’s production modern piece “Seven Nation Army” and senior hip hop routine “Bad Chic” also represented ATJ in the finals. ATJ received special awards for “Seven Nation Army” choreographed by Emily Kennedy, “Cooler than Me” choreographed by Chris Rich, and hip hop routines “Pump It Up” and “Bad Chic” also choreographed by Emily Kennedy. Shelby Mackness, Madison Hetherington, and Stacia Pepper also received Special Awards for their solos.

I think the highlight of the entire weekend for the kids was meeting Shawn Desman and Luther Brown. ATJ will definitely be revisiting “MOVE” next year. “I feel the most important thing about these competitions is that the kids enjoy themselves and experience a sense of accomplishment – our ATJ dancers should be proud of what they have achieved”, says ATJ director Lisa Lester-Harris.