Growth and artistry were on full display as the Expressions Competitive Dance Team, part of the Pagosa Springs Dance Academy, competed in its third main season competition in Farmington, N.M., on March 14 and 15.
The weekend offered dancers the chance to demonstrate not only their technical skills, but also the creative performance qualities they have developed throughout the season.
Although dancers perform the same routines throughout the competition season, each event features a different panel of judges who provide new perspectives and feedback. Judges often bring their own professional expertise and artistic backgrounds, highlighting different aspects of a performance and helping dancers refine their technique and artistry as the season progresses.
Expressions dancers earned numerous high scores and special judges’ awards during the weekend.
Company director Lesley Peck said the team has experienced significant growth since the company began five years ago. At that time, many dancers were competing in novice divisions, but, in recent years, the team has increasingly moved into more competitive divisions and continues to earn placements and awards.
She noted that competition feedback has played an important role in helping dancers grow both technically and artistically.
Company co-director Courtney Luke added that competitions can also be inspiring for dancers and teachers, providing opportunities to see choreography and performances from other studios and bring new ideas back to their own training.
Many of the dancers on the awards stage said their favorite part of competing was “having fun with friends.”
Executive Director Katrina Thomas noted that while the dancers put in significant effort to develop technique and artistry, the competition experience also fosters growth in character.
Through the process, dancers build teamwork, confidence, respect for each other and themselves, and resilience. Not every moment of training or competition is “fun,” but standing on stage and performing alongside teammates allows them to experience joy, camaraderie, and pride in their accomplishments, making the hard work fun and worthwhile in the end.
Expressions dancers performed 27 routines over the weekend, including solos, duets, trios, small groups and large-group numbers.
Many received high adjudication rankings and earned top-10 placements in their respective competitive divisions, reflecting the continued growth of the studio’s competitive program over the past several years.
First-place overall solo awards were earned by Avery White for her self-choreographed solo, Camellia Bellina and Paige Rogacki.
Other dancers earning top-10 solo placements in their divisions were Merick Halterman (fourth), Lily Peck (fifth), Sophie Martinez (seventh), Avonlea Thomas (ninth) and Lily Rogacki (10th).
Group routines also earned impressive results, with top-10 placements for “Art of Noticing” (second), “It Takes Two” (second), the full-company routine “Footloose” (second), “Anything You Can Do” (third), “Hopeless Romantics” (third), “Schuyler Sisters” (third) and “Aftermath” (fifth).
Seven routines received special judges’ awards recognizing standout elements of performance.
Soloists White, Bellina, Peck, and Leela Simpson were honored, along with the duet of Sophie Martinez and Penny Peck, and the group dances “The Art of Noticing” and “Footloose.”
The studio also received a Studio Superlative Award recognizing innovative concepts across its routines.
Community members will have the opportunity to see many of these performances at the Pagosa Springs Dance Academy Spring Recital on May 2. The Expressions Competitive Dance Team will attend its final competition of the season March 27-29.
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