DANCEAMERICA is pleased to announce the high scoring and special award winning routines from the 2002 DANCEAMERICA National Finals held from July 5 - 11 in Orlando, FL.

The competition and workshop was held at the Wyndham Palace Resort & Spa in Orlando, FL.

Over nine hundred dancers and their teachers attended, resulting in one hundred and fifty nine DANCEAMERICA National Championship titles.

In conjunction with the National Finals, 65 dancers participated in the Dancer of the Year contest. These dancers were featured in a specially choreographed production by Sam Fiorello and competed in the areas of interview, jazz combination and solo talent presentation. Dance Olympus is pleased and proud to present the results of the 2002 Dancer of the Year contest:

2002 Female Dancer of the Year:
Michelle Livigne of Carol Colbert School of Dance in Boca Raton, FL

1st Runner-Up:
Mindy Carrigee of Labourdette School of Dance in Metairie, LA

2nd Runner-Up:
Cassandra Porter of Bonnie Ardelean Dance Studio in Aurora, IL

3rd Runner-Up:
Adina Belanger of Dawn Dott Dance Studio in Aurora, IL

4th Runner-Up:
Emily Perrot of Wynn Twins School of Dance in Raytown, MO

5th Runner-Up:
Lia Hobbs of Wynn Twins School of Dance in Raytown, MO

2002 Male Dancer of the Year:
Colin Angevine of Betsy Daily School of Performing Arts in Berwyn, PA

1st Runner-Up:
Eugene Peabody of Sawyer Dance Academy in Sawyer, MI

2nd Runner-Up:
Thomas Ragland of City Dance Troupe in Richmond, VA

Both Male and Female title holders were presented with a $1,000.00 cash scholarship.

For further information, please contact the DANCEAMERICA / Dance Olympus offices at 1795 Express Drive North, P.O.Box 2505, Smithtown, NY 11787. Phone: 1.800.443.2623.


High Scoring Female Soloist and Best Technical Execution:

“L-O-V-E” – Michelle Livigne
Carol Colbert School of Dance, Boca Raton, FL
Carol Colbert Skubal – Teacher

High Scoring Male Soloist:

“New York State of Mind” – Colin Angevine
Betsy Daily School of Performing Arts, Berwyn, PA
Betsy Daily – Teacher

High Scoring Duo-Trio:

“Black Widow”
Kathy Hansen School of Dance, Owego, NY
Kathy Hansen – Teacher

High Scoring Small Group:

“Can You Feel The Rhythm”
The Hanover School of Ballet, Hanover, PA
Deborah Blume-Byers – Teacher

High Scoring Large Group and Jules Stone Award for Overall High Score:

“A Night At The Ballet”
The Hanover School of Ballet, Hanover, PA
Deborah Blume-Byers – Teacher

High Scoring Line:

“Red Hot”
The Hanover School of Ballet, Hanover, PA
Deborah Blume-Byers – Teacher

High Scoring Production:

“Butterflies”
Wynn Twins School of Dance, Raytown, MO
Jann Wynn, Stephanie Judah, Pamela Hook, Leslie Genova,
Sarah Hubbard and Jean Wynn Sullivan – Teachers

Overall Junior High Score:

“Too Legit” – Jeremy Arnold
Betsy Daily School of Performing Arts, Berwyn, PA
Betsy Daily – Teacher

Richard DiSarno Director’s Award:

“I’m A Brass Band” – Samantha Hudson
The Dancer’s Pointe, Orlando, FL
Kelly Salisbury – Teacher

Best Emotional Execution:

“Gloomy Sunday” – Adina Belanger
Dawn Dott Dance Studio, Marquette, MI
Jill Belanger – Teacher

Best Choreography:

“I Feel Pretty”
Bonnie Ardelean Dance Studio, Aurora, IL
Catie Deitz – Teacher

Best Precision:

“Man Of La Mancha”
Southwest School of Dance, Marshall, MN
Desiree Olafson – Teacher

Best Costuming:

“Trilogy”
Wynn Twins School of Dance, Raytown, MO
Jann Wynn, Stephanie Judah, Pamela Hook, Leslie Genova,
Sarah Hubbard and Jean Wynn Sullivan – Teachers

Best Solo Presentation:

“I’m On My Way” – Thomas Ragland
City Dance Troupe, Richmond, VA
Rodney Williams – Teacher

Best Presentation Group:

“Sing, Sing, Sing”
Juliart Dance Studio, Troy, MI
Patti Krokosky – Teacher

2002 National Teacher Choice Winner:

“Cat Burglar”
The Hanover School of Ballet, Hanover, PA
Deborah Blume-Byers – Teacher