From left are Daniella Macre, Charlotte Nevins and Christa Russell. Their group Triple Threat won a platinum medal, special award for "fabulously flexible" and first place overall teen duo/trio at the recent Starquest International Dance competition in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

A group of dancers from the Just Dance Bahamas dance school, owned by Robyn Gape, recently attended the Starquest International Dance competition in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The group was under the direction of former dancer and the creative director and head instructor of Just Dance Bahamas, Nonny Price. Price is a graduate from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a BA in dance. Just Dance Bahamas members competed against dance companies from across the United States representing The Bahamas well.

Members of the group returned to Nassau with top rankings for their performances, including nine platinum medals (highest possible ranking), one high gold medal, special judge's awards, overall high scores and a choreography award, beating out hundreds of competitors.

The Just Dance Bahamas group included: Stemarciae Bain, 11; Daniella Macre, 14; Beth Macre, 11; Christa Russell, 13; Charlotte Nevins, 15; Caroline Knowles, 15; Matai Lockhart, 11; Michal Nachmany, 12; and Olivia Pieri, 18. This group of talented young women competed in multiple categories and executed multiple styles of dance. The results from the competition were as follows:

o Contemporary jazz trio "Triple Threat": Daniella Macre, Charlotte Nevins and Christa Russell, platinum medal, special award for "fabulously flexible" and first place overall teen duo/trio.

o Group tap "Believe": Daniella Macre, Charlotte Nevins, Christa Russell, Caroline Knowles, Michal Nachmany, Stemarciae Bain and Beth Macre, platinum medal and second place overall teen small group.

o Group jazz "Femmes Fatales": Daniella Macre, Charlotte Nevins, Christa Russell, Olivia Pieri, Matai Lockhart, Stemarciae Bain and Beth Macre, platinum medal, special award for "military precision" and first place overall teen small group (only a quarter of a point higher than the tap routine).

o Stemarciae Bain jazz solo "Rhythm Is A Dancer", platinum medal, costume award and second place overall junior solo.

o Beth Macre tap solo "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy", platinum medal, special award for "amazingly expressive eyes", special recognition for "competition kindness" (recognized for supporting other competitors) and fifth place overall junior solo.

o Daniella Macre jazz solo "Feelin' Good", platinum medal, special award for "delightful dancer" and third place overall teen solo.

o Christa Russell tap solo "I Feel Free", platinum medal and first place overall teen solo.

o Charlotte Nevins lyrical solo "When She Loved Me", platinum medal and third place overall senior solo.

o Caroline Knowles tap solo "Marry The Night" (her first solo performance), high gold medal, special award for "gorgeous smile" and costume award.

Nonny Price, creative director of Just Dance Bahamas, was awarded a choreography award recognizing "genuine and heart-felt choreography".

Not only did Just Dance Bahamas take its company members to competition, but it also took a select adult tap group to compete including Debra Sands, Dana Baine, Kathy Maury, Robyn Gape, Nonny Price, Michelle Russell, Britni Knowles, Jennifer Roach and Eileen Hill. Their results were:

o Adult tap group "Talkin' Bout The Beat", platinum medal and the adult award for highest scoring adult routine.

o The trio was also nominated to receive the fusion award for the most entertaining duo/trio in the competition.

o "Femmes Fatales" and "Believe" were both nominated for the odyssey award for the most memorable/entertaining routine.

o The trio, "Femme Fatales", "Believe", Daniella Macre's solo, Beth Macre's solo and Nevins' solo were also nominated for costume awards.

Just Dance Bahamas and its company members were thrilled by their success at the competition and remain grateful to have had the opportunity to showcase their hard work and talent internationally.

Just Dance Bahamas will have its first recitals on June 11 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. and June 12 at 5 p.m. at the National Centre for the Performing Arts. Tickets will be on sale to the public on June 7, 8 and 9 at the National Centre for the Performing Arts between the hours of 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

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