MILLSTONE — Special Kays, a nonprofit, nationally recognized competitive dance team of the New Jersey Center of Dance and Performing Arts — received numerous top awards at Groove National Dance Competition in Atlantic City from July 6-12.
The team received 20 platinum (highest level) awards, as well as special judges’ and first place awards for many of its solo, duo/trio and group dance numbers.
In the petite solo category (7-9-year-old), Kendall Deal, of Monroe Township; Bella DePompo, of Allentown; Chandni O’Keefe, of Princeton; and Nicole Rubino, of Millstone, received first place awards. Ava Brooke DePalma, of Millstone, received a special judges’ award for having "awesome energy" for her solo performance in that category.
In the junior solo category (10-12-year-old), Allison Hoeni, of East Brunswick; Kailey Kocur, of Millstone; and Briana Shiffrin, of the Cream Ridge section of Upper Freehold, received a platinum award.
In the junior duo/trio category (7-9-year-old), Chase Jansen, of Millstone, and Kendall Deal, of Monroe Township, received first place, as well as a special judges’ award for "Great Chemistry." Sophia Abene, of Monroe Township, and Amanda Capasso, of Jackson, received a platinum award in the teen duo/trio category (13-15-year-old). Amanda Capasso also received a platinum award in the senior solo category (16-year-old and up) for her performance.
The team also won 15 platinum and five first place overall awards, as well as special judges’ awards for its group numbers at Groove. Seven of those group numbers were chosen from more than 500 numbers to compete in the dance off.
"Special Kays is excited to be ending its competition season with so many accolades," said Linda Kay Griggs, director, Special Kays resident dance team for the New Jersey Center of Dance and Performing Arts. "We look forward to another successful season ahead."
For more information about New Jersey Center of Dance and Performing Arts or Special Kays, visit www.njcodance.com.

