Dancers from Expressions Dance Company, part of Pagosa Springs Dance Academy, competed in a regional dance competition in Grand Junction on Feb. 7 and 8, facing studios from across Colorado and the Southwest, including Grand Junction, Montrose, Rifle, Gunnison, Moab, Durango, Alamosa, Clifton, Delta, Pueblo, Craig and Dillon.
For some team members, this was their first competition of the season. For others, it was a chance to apply judges’ critiques and refine their routines for the main season start.
The Expressions dancers brought focus, determination, and teamwork to the weekend, translating into confident performances and strong results on stage.
Routines were scored using a national adjudication system evaluating execution, technique, stage presence and overall presentation. Performances are ranked from Gold and High Gold to Platinum, Double Platinum, and the rarely awarded Diamond level.
Every Pagosa Springs entry earned at least a Platinum-level category score. Paige and Lily Rogacki each received Double Platinum awards for their solos — the highest scoring honors earned by Pagosa Springs dancers.
Genre Awards recognize the highest-scoring routines within each style and division. First-place genre awards were earned by Paige Rogacki, Merick Halterman, Molly Hart, Lily Rogacki and Camellia Bellina for their solos. Molly Hart and Autumn O’Neal also earned first place in their lyrical duet category. The Small Group Lyrical featuring Cassidy Luke, Halterman, Paige Rogacki, Lily Rogacki and Bellina earned first place in its genre division.
Top 10 High-Point Awards compare scores across genres to recognize the highest-scoring performances within each division. Pagosa Springs dancers regularly placed in the Top 10 across multiple skill divisions.
Top 10 placements included Paige Rogacki earning first in her division for her solo, Penny Peck placing second, and the Expressions Dance Company large group routine, featuring all Pagosa Springs dancers, earning second place in its division.
Additional Top 10 finishes included the Small Group Lyrical (Luke, Halterman, Paige Rogacki, Lily Rogacki and Bellina) placing second; Lily Rogacki’s solo and the sister duet of Lily Peck and Penny Peck both placing third; Bellina’s solo and the Hart–O’Neal duet placing fourth; the Paige Rogacki–Luke duet placing fifth; Halterman and Lily Peck each placing sixth for their solos; and Hart placing 10th for her solo.
Special Judges’ Awards were presented to recognize performances outside of the traditional point system. Dancers receiving recognition included Avery White and Merick Halterman. In addition, the Expressions Dance Company large group routine “Footloose” received a Special Judges’ Entertainment Award, honoring the group for its audience appeal.
Beyond awards, dance competitions function as an educational experience, providing professional critiques and performance opportunities that support continued growth and stage readiness.
The company’s director, Lesley Peck, shared her pride in the dancers, saying she was “blown away” by their dedication, teamwork and performances throughout the competition.
The Expressions Dance Company will continue its competition season this weekend, traveling to Farmington, N.M., to compete against additional studios at the Axis Dance Competition.
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