News Cooling Dancers Win Awards

The Cooling Dancers of Vinton have returned from an outstanding weekend of competition April 11-13 at the “Midwest Starz” Regional.   

Hundreds of dancers from 19 studios throughout Iowa gathered at the Five Sullivan Bros. Center to compete.  The Cooling Dancers brought home many of the top awards in each age division. 

Judges for the event were Joe Crook, dancer/actor/gymnast of the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, Jarel Waters, freelance choreographer of New York and formerly of the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, and Maurice Watson, MFA candidate in Dance at the Univ. of Iowa, and former Alvin Ailey/Dance Theatre of Harlem dancer.   

Each routine received a placement award and the top five scores in each age division were named as “High Point” Winners/Runner-ups.  Additionally, “Judge’s Choice” awards went out at each ceremony, including commentary by each judge.   

Results for Cooling Dance Center: 

Senior Division:  “Save the Day”  Platinum Rating, 1st Place High Point Group, and Judge’s Choice : Sydney Bartling, Bristian Gerber, Katie Hancock, Madison Hofstadter, Lily  Horst, Olivia Ketchen, Katrina Langstraat, Brandon Price, Natalie Sallee, Annika Schmidt, Taylor Vislisel, Shanie Wiedenhoff, Emma Wilson 

Teen Division: “Go Into Your Dance”  Platinum Rating, 1st Runner Up High Point Group, Judge’s Choice:   

Baylee Bruce, Faith Crawley, Alyssa Ellis, Katie Folkmann, Brandis Gerber, Elly GLoede, Hannah Haisman, Grace Horst, Hannah Kalous, Rachel Tandy, Taylor Wheeler, Madison Winter 

Teen Division:  “For Once in My Life”  Platinum Rating, 3rd Runner Up High Point Group:  Charley Cooling, Kelli Cox, Maddux Erhardt, Kaitlyn Halstead, Cassandra Hazen, Allissa Hendryx, Collin Henry, Leah Kaufman,  Bree Lundvall, Shelby McDonald, Katie Noren, Grace Petrzelka, Lauren Price, Rylee Stout, Amy Thomas, Morgan White  

Pre-Teen Division:  “Storm Warning”  High Gold Rating, 1st Place High Point Line:   Baylee Bruce, Charley Cooling, Kelli Cox, Newelle Dalton, Riley Davis, Madalynn Farmer, Cassandra Hazen, Abbye Hendryx, Allissa Hendryx, Collin Henry, Randi Jenkins, Leah Kaufman, Allison Kemp, Nicole Lutz, Bree Lundvall, Lillis Markey, Shelby McDonald, Lauren Murray, Katie Noren, Lauren Paine, Lauren Price, Lydia Radeke, Taylor Shipley, Cameryn Stephens, Hailey Stephens, Chelsee Tharp, Amy Thomas, Nicki Thomas, Max Vasquez, Morgan White, Madison Winter 

Pre-Teen Division:  “Dreams”  High Gold Rating, 1st Place High Point Group, and Judge’s Choice:  

Emma Arnold, Maggie Davis, Madalynn Farmer, Kayla Griffith, Abbye Hendryx, Randi Jenkins, Allison Kemp, Nicole Lutz, Lillis Markey, Lauren Paine, Lydia Radeke, Libby Setter, Taylor Shipley, Callie Taylor, Lynda Taylor, Ashlee Thomas, Nicki Thomas, Molly Tschantz

Pre-Teen Division:  “I Want”  High Gold Rating, 1st Runner-Up High Point Group:  Leah Bohnsack, Newelle Dalton, Franki Evans, Hannah Houtakker, Kailey Lazenby, Lauren Murray, Karsyn Semelroth, Kaylee Sorum, Jayden Steffen, Chelsee Tharp, Lauren Upmeyer, Piper Wiedenhoff

Pre-Teen Division:  “I’m Yours”  High Gold Rating:  Zena Aragon, Brylee Bruce, Alyssa Griffith, Kate Hyland, Raeganne Neilson, Elsa Page, Ella VanWeeelden

Mini Division:  “Sugar Sugar”  High Gold Rating, 1st Place High Point Mini Line, and Judge’s Choice:   

Taryn Ambrose, Izzie Birker, Addyson Chvala, Peytin Clemensen, Alana Fleming, Kaiya Gralund, Carmen Henkle, Kira Jacobs, Mia Jacobs, Julia Johnson, Haylee Karr, Mallory Kenny, Samantha Lundvall, Chloe Mossman, Karsyn Nichol, Julia Paine, Joshuah Rivera, Rachel Rollinger, Sophia Vasquez 

Mini Division:  “Born to Entertain”  High Gold Rating,  1st Runner up High Point Group:  Claire Booth, Gwen Clemenson, Emma Fry, Grace Gilbaugh, Molly Haisman, Brooke Johnston, Megan Kenny, Raeganne Neilson, Karsyn Nichol, Elsa Page, Jenna Pattee, Kaicee Paulsen, Lacey Stout, Ashlee Thomas, Mila VanWeelden, Baylee Wheeler