3D Dance Team receives top honors

It was a big weekend for CAST Academy of Dance at the Hall of Fame Dance Competition located in Ontario, CA.

After a three-day competition, not only did the dance team bring home two platinum awards for their “Honorable Mention” and “Liberty” dance routines, but they brought home two Overall High Score awards, first place category winner awards and gold award trophies.

In the lyrical dance category, “Liberty” (choreographed by Allisan Whitman) received a platinum award and placed seventh overall in the small group teen division. 3D’s hip-hop routine, “Honorable Mention” (coached and choreographed by Stefanie Aguilar and Mac Sardilla), received a first-place platinum award, was named Category Winner and placed eighth overall in the large group teen division. The dance routines “Sunscreen” and “Catch 22” (choreographed by Allisan Whitman and Penny Floate, respectively) were both awarded the Category Winner First Place High Gold Award.

If that wasn’t enough excitement for the weekend, the judges of the competition chose dancers Jaclyn Costa, Sarah Stevens, Traci McKnight, Katie Neal, Rebecca Donlon and Alex Schooner as their All-Star award winners. All-Stars are dancers the judges chose from the soloist category for their talent and ability and can participate in workshops offered at Nationals. The dancers were chosen to perform in the opening number at the National Championships, which will be held this year in Las Vegas on June 27-30 and in Chicago July 5-9.

In addition to their platinum and overall awards, “Burn me Up,” “Where Did it Go?” “Istanbul” and “Prepare Yourself” all received honorable gold award placements.

Hall of Fame is based out of West Bloomfield, MI, and travels the country providing opportunities for the nation’s best dancers to compete in a challenging and positive atmosphere.

CAST Academy of Dance will be holding auditions for interested dancers wanting to become part of the 3D Dance Team on Saturday, August 13. Dancers will be chosen for a variety of teams — ages 5 through 18 years.