DreamCatcher’s Dance Teams from Chandler and Prague studios competed in the National Finals Rainbow Connection Dance Competition in Branson Missouri this past week. The DreamCatcher’s team competed with !7 solos, 1 duet, and 13 groups, against 33 studios from all across the country.

DreamCatcher’s owner, Aonisty Kashwer, says, “All of our dancers really stepped up and gave their best performances ever this week. I’m so proud of how hard they have worked to prepare for this and how well they have represented our studio and our community.”

DreamCatcher’s had six soloists selected as National Dancer of the Year finalists: Cheyenne Needham, Megan Gilbreth, KateLinn Almand, Jalen Milligan, Brooke Watkins, and Catrina Needham . The Dancer of the Year award is the most prestigious solo award given at nationals and the winner is given an all-expense-paid trip to Australia to compete in an international dance competition, among other prizes, including a cash award. Jalen Milligan, one of the Dancer of the Year finalists says, “It’s a huge honor just to be picked as a Dancer of the Year finalist, and it’s a lot of fun to meet and dance with the best dancers in the whole country!”

In the eight-and-under solo age division, five DreamCatcher’s soloists earned overall awards: KateLinn Almand, 8th place; Megan Gilbreth, 7th place; Hannah Robinson, 4th place; Kinsey Grooms, 3rd place; and Cheyenne Needham, 1st! Needham was also awarded “Miss Mini Super Talent” title award.

In the nine-to-eleven solo age division, DreamCatcher’s dancer Jalen Milligan earned 6th overall with her solo, “Black Eyed Boogie.”

In the 12-14 solo age division, two DreamCatcher’s dancers earned top spots: Catrina Needham earned 5th place with her lyrical solo, and Brooke Watkins earned 2nd place. Watkins was also awarded the “Miss Junior” title award.

Brooke Watkins and Catrina Needham also competed with a duet in the 12-14 age division and earned first overall and the prestigious “technical excellence” award. “Of all the special awards in the entire competition, this is the one most coveted by teachers, this award means that your students got it ‘exactly right,’ that’s quite an accomplishment” says Kashwer.

In groups, DreamCatcher’s earned numerous overall awards and judges choice awards:
In eight-and-under small groups, “Baby June” earned 7th overall and Cowboy Rock earned 2nd overall.
In nine-to-eleven small groups, “Stairway” earned third overall, and in 13-15 small groups, “Six Chix” earned 7th overall and “Completely” earned 8th overall.
In nine-to-eleven line groups (more than 21 dancers), “DonCha Know” earned first overall!

The group portion of the competition took two full days and included a special finals competition called the Gold Group Challenge. For this challenge, the top five groups in each age category and group size re-compete with new judges for additional awards. DreamCatcher’s had seven groups qualify for the gold group challenge! “Seven dances in the national finals dance off - incredible for a studio of this size; especially since we are competing with studios two and three times our size. Some of these studios have over 100 dancers just on their competition team!” says DreamCatcher’s administrative director, Jeree Milligan

In the Gold Group Challenge:
• “The Audition” earned second in eight-and-under large groups “The Playground” earned fourth in eight-and-under large groups
• “Baby June” earned 2nd in eight-and-under small groups, “Cowboy Rock earned 4th in eight-and-under small groups • “Stairway” earned 1st in nine-to-eleven small groups and earned the highest score of the challenge, crowning them Junior Gold Group Challenge Champions!

WHEW! These are just the overall awards, it was quite a week for DreamCatcher’s Dance Company, and a great way to cap off their tenth year of business!