AT THE WORLD SHOWDANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN RIESA, GERMANY!

Picture Beijing, July 2008 but now fast forward to Riesa, Germany, November 2008 with an arena

overflowing with 5,000 screaming supporters, community people, TV and press reporters.  Entering

Erdgas Arena is thousands of dancers from around the globe wearing their track suits and waving

their countries flag in anticipation of the World Show Dance Championship Finals.  By the end of

the evening, few would be celebrated champions, but three times the United States stepped

onto the podium to bring home Gold, Silver and Bronze medals for our Country!

The USA won a Gold Medal in the Male Children’s Solo Division (Ages 7-11) for Christopher D’Ariano from NYC. 

In the Adult Duo Division (ages 16- 30). Elisa Alaio, age 17 from Thornwood, NY, and 15 year old Erica Barton

from Ossining, NY competed against hundreds of other Duos, (Traditionally a Division won by a male & female)

for the coveted Silver Medal position on the podium, and in true Olympic fashion were wrapped together

in a USA flag while watching the flags of the winning countries rise. The girls performed to “Loathing” and

are from the Academy of Dance Arts In Pleasantville, NY. The Bronze Medal in the Adult Group Division

went to “Women of War”, Betty Gundersen’s Studio of Dance, Massachusetts. (Director-Betty Gundersen,

Choreographer -Javin Ashlin.). The winning number was danced by, Ahnisaa Beaupre, Lucy Dolan,

Simone Gundersen, Kelsey Jurcyk, Katie Newell, Rebecca Robinson, Olivia Tisdell.  

For “Loathing” Choreographer, Jennifer Pollock the Silver Medal was an unexpected thrill. It was so exciting

seeing our dancers progress from the preliminary round to the semi-finals, quarter finals and then

being part of the top 6 in the finals. But it was not until I saw the USA flag rising that it hit me… that it

belonged to us, to our dance, and then I completely lost it and broke down”.  Jennifer was doing double duty,

as coach/choreographer, and as the United States National Team Captain as well. “It wasn’t just that

the USA had won the Silver Medal, it was my dancers who were bringing it home for our country. I have

never experienced that level of emotion and pride!”

Similar sentiments were expressed from United States National Team Co-Captain Betty Gundersen,

whose dancers took home the Bronze. “As I watched the American Flag being raised I was overwhelmed

with emotion and pride for our accomplishment.  These were our dancers representing our country –

one of the most exciting moments of a lifetime.”

The 2008 World Championships brought together a record number of 30 countries with 3,600 entries.

76 dancers from all corners of the United States were selected to be members of this elite Team, with

many of them placing in the top ten of their category:

 1 - Rylee Jackson - 9th place, Children Female Solo (Loree Cloud, Director/Choreographer)

 2 - Erica Barton - 6th place, Junior Female Solo (Jennifer Pollock, Director/Choreographer)

 3 - Michelle Henning/Jillian Simmons-9th place, Jr. Duo (Rowan Winkler & Merredith Dobbins, Director/Choreographer)

 4 - Christopher D'Ariano/Taylor Roberts-10th place, Junior Duo

 5 - "Aqua Flux" - 9th place, Jr. Small Group (Rowan Winkler & Merredith Dobbins, Director/Choreographer)

 6 - "Satisfaction" - 9th place, Adult Formation (Jennifer & Ted Vecchio, Director/Choreographer)

 7 - "Welcome to the Jungle"- 8th place - Production (Jennifer & Ted Vecchio)

Irma Ziegler, Founder and Director of Headliners said, “We hope that word of our successes will generate

interest and encourage more studios to participate.  Our goal is to build a strong United States National Team.

This is our 7th appearance at the World Championships, and we grow larger each year.  Presently, all

sponsorships are raised by families and individuals, but our dream is to have corporate and National

sponsored support, like they have in other Countries, who bring hundreds of dancers. We are also

striving for this to become a U.S. televised event, as it is currently in Europe.

For more information on the Show Dance World Championships, please go to the International Dance

Organization’s website www.ido-online.com and to find out how to qualify for the U.S. team go to

www.headlinerscompetition.com