Dancers from the greater Globe/Miami/San Carlos area who are members of Power Elite Dance Academy’s Competitive Company traveled to Henderson, Nevada to attend the 41st annual Power of Dance tour with Tremaine Dance Conventions. This national leading dance education circuit boasts a professional faculty led by Joe Tremaine and his staff, bringing best-in-the-industry classes to dancers around the states. The Company Dancers from Power Elite, led by owner Tina McCarey, prepare rigorously for this event in hopes to place in competition and bring back accolades to their hometown – and this year did not disappoint!
PEDA Company dancers ages 6 to 18 attended this event, training in master classes from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for three straight days in subjects such as ballet, tap, hip hop, contemporary and classic jazz. Dancers and teachers also had the opportunity to attend lectures and panels with the guest artists and faculty, making it a tremendous learning experience for all. Tremaine is known for its high-quality training in all subject areas but stands above all as a leader in keeping the fundamentals of classic jazz dance alive. Students are led through hour-long classes among some of the best dancers in the nation within their respective age categories, creating new friendships, pushing the limits of the mental and physical aspects of dance, gaining growth in self-confidence, and receiving a renewed sense of love for the athleticism and expression of their art.
One of the most unique aspects of Tremaine Dance Conventions is its focus on higher education and inclusivity of all cultural and classically-based techniques within the dance world. PEDA students were all given the opportunity to audition for scholarships; awards ranging from one-time Tremaine event tuition awards to the coveted yearlong Tremaine event tuition passes and the most sought-after prize of college tuition scholarships to the prestigious AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts, with merit-based awards in the amounts of $40,000-$60,000 given to high school students entering their junior or senior year.
McCarey often fondly refers to the competitive section of Tremain as “the icing on the cake” when addressing members of her dance company. The chance to represent our community on the main stage during the two nights of competition is a highlight of the event. This year the PEDA Company secured a large array of top-placing awards from the youngest group of dancers to the top tier team, as well as placing within the top three for all production numbers which include multiple PEDA groups. Many of the students also bravely took to the stage to compete in solo dances and were showered with praise. While bringing home a slew of trophies is quite the accomplishment, it’s the memories made between staff and team members that will last a lifetime.
This year, PEDA Senior Anisa Spurgeon was a member of the coveted Tremaine Dance Company. She attended several stops across the nation on the Power Dance Tour, and represented her studio with grace and gratitude. It was a proud moment for all to watch as she took the stage in the closing ceremonies, performing in the Tremaine Faculty Show among the other members of the TDC from this season. It was a moment of pride and accomplishment that the PEDA staff and dancers will look to for years to come as a source of inspiration to work hard and set big goals in their dance careers, with McCarey at the helm and heart of it all.
