By Suzanne Montgomery
Opelika Observer
Opelika’s Make Your Move Dynasty Dance Team took the top awards at the “Star Systems National Dance Competition” held July 16-20 in Panama City Beach, Fla.
Fifty-five dancers from the Make Your Move Dance Studio in Opelika took 50 dance routines to the finals. The dancers’ performances consisted of 24 group routines, three duets and 23 solos. Of the fifty routines, 38 made the “Overall Placements,” with 20 of those placing in the top five.
The most prestigious awards garnered in the competition by the Make Your Move performers were “Top Shining Star Studio.” This award was based on each studio’s top five routines, which were averaged out for the highest overall score. Make Your Move brought home the giant silver cup and a five-night cruise for two to Jamaica.
Valley Senior Jewels team captured the “Overall Teen Shining Star Small Group Champions” award with “Shake a Tail Feather.” The 55-member dance team from Make Your Move brought home the top honor of “Overall Junior Shining Star Line Production Champions” for their rendition entitled “Purple Reign,” and the “Teen Shooting Star Grand Champion” trophy was won by the oldest Dynasty Team members for the outstanding routine “Turn to Stone.”
Carson Champion brought home second place for her solo performance in the Mini Shining Star Solos Overall Grand Champion Division with her routine “Twist My Hips.” Hayden Spikes won third place in the same division with “Let it Go.”
In the Junior Shining Star Solo Overall Grand Champion, third place was won by Kerri Halland Laro with “Swagger Jagger.” Junior Shining Star Small Group Overall Grand Champion won second place with Make Your Move Dinosaurs “Imperial Power.” The Junior Shining Star Lines Overall Grand Champion first place award went to the Dynasty Teams for “Purple Reign.”
Teen Shining Star Small Group Overall Grand Champion awards: first place was the Valley Senior Jewels with “Shake a Tail Feather.” Second place went to the Valley Senior Jewels for “Applause,” and the Valley Senior Jewels took third place for “Dance Apocalyptic.”
In the Junior Shooting Star Large Group, Overall Grand Champion division, Heaven Hop performed “Royal Revolution” for a third place win. Other awards included Junior Shooting Star Lines Overall Grand Champion third place with “Name Game,” and “Royal Revolution/Purple Reign.” The Junior Shooting Star Productions Overall Grand Champion was won by the Make Your Move Groove Krews with the performance of “Hammer Time.”
Make Your Move will be moving from Columbus Parkway to its new and larger facilities Oct. 1, 2014. The new 7,000 square foot facility will offer four ballrooms, new administrative office space, locker room, break room, large lobby area and much more. Registration is now open at the current location or online at “makeyourmovedance.com.” Open House is Saturday, Aug. 9 from 2-4 p.m. Fall dance classes begin Aug. 11.