Absolute Dancers win high honors

Tiny dancers impress judges

By: Audrey Levine
   When the dancers walked into the studio, some were wearing shirts displaying their dance team’s name, while others were wearing bright green and black costumes with hats that hung down over their eyes.
   They took their positions in the center of the room to begin warm-ups, stretching themselves as much as possible, with the only goal being their improvement.
   "I have been dancing for about eight years," said 9-year-old Hayley Miller. "It’s fun and you get better and better each time you dance."
   The 27 members of the Absolute Dancers Company on Spotswood-Englishtown Road proved their increasing talents when they represented their studio at the 2006 Ticket to Broadway National Competition, Aug. 9 to Aug. 12, at the Wildwood Convention Center.
   "We had ballet routines, hip hop, tap and musical theater," said the studio’s owner, Nicole Lee. "Some of the students did more than one dance and we had solos, duets and trios."
   The dancers left the competition with high awards for all of their 30 dances, winning 10 gold awards, with point value scores between 260 and 274 out of about 300; 18 high gold awards, with scores between 275 and 289; and two platinum awards, with scores of at least 290.
   In addition, Ms. Lee said they earned five special awards, including the simply spectacular award, which was presented to 14-year-old Alexa Varga.
   "The competitions are an opportunity to learn how to dance better," Alexa said before doing her warm-ups with the other members of the company. "The judges give critiques and they are more important than the actual awards."
   Ms. Lee said the dance number "Everybody Dance Now," a jazz piece featuring girls 6 years of age and younger, won the overall high score and earned the Ticket to Broadway award, which is given to the routine that the judges decide is the most entertaining of the competition.
   "The girls love performing and going on stage," Ms. Lee said. "It is nice to see them accomplish their goals."
   Hayley said this was her second time participating in the national competition and she even had the opportunity to perform a solo for the first time, winning a third place high gold award for her work.
   "I think the competition is fun," she said. "You get so nervous, but when you go onstage you know what to do so you are not nervous anymore."
   According to Ms. Lee, Alexa and her sister, 12-year-old Samantha, were chosen to perform in the "Circle of Stars." Ms. Lee said the invitation gave the girls the opportunity to perform a routine with dancers from the other studios at the competition.
   "They were chosen based on the solos they performed," Ms. Lee said. "It was the second time they were invited to do this."
   Alexa said she enjoyed working with the different choreographers and dancers.
   "I was able to see how the other schools differ from mine," she said. "It was exciting."
   In addition to the dances by the company members, many of the mothers also performed a jazz routine, called "It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere."
   "The dancers are absolutely mortified, but the crowd goes crazy," Ms. Lee said. "The mothers really enjoy it and they have a great time."
   Ms. Lee has owned the studio for six years and has been involved with the competition team for nine, having been the director before taking ownership of the business.
   She said the dancers are invited to join based on skills and enthusiasm, with the youngest dancer being 5 years old.
   "I look at ability level and level of commitment throughout the previous year," she said. "I can see a certain level of talent."
   Ms. Lee said she enjoys seeing the camaraderie between the dancers when they perform at competitions.
   She said that prior to the performance, one girl was injured, but the other dancers stepped up to learn her part and prepare to be understudies.
   Although the girl was able to perform, Ms. Lee said she was impressed by the other dancers’ willingness to learn the routines so quickly.
   "I like seeing how they support each other," she said.
   Ms. Lee said she also enjoys watching the dancers perform and seeing them outside the studio.
   Last year, when they participated in the competition, they spent time on the rides on the Wildwood boardwalk, said Ms. Lee.
   "I get to see a different side of them, the nondancer," she said. "And I like seeing their reactions to other studios."