The Dance Awards Explained

The Dance Awards
Awarded For:Excellence in dance
Country:United States
Year:2011–present
Website:https://thedanceawards.com http://thedanceawards.com

The Dance Awards is a national dance competition held annually in Las Vegas and Orlando. Dancers between the ages of five and nineteen are awarded to recognize excellence in dance. TDA is widely regarded as a prestigious award presented for dance in the US, and is considered to be one of the toughest competitions internationally for young pre-professional dancers.

Overview

The Dance Awards (TDA) is a national dance competition that collaborates with JUMP, Nuvo, and 24 Seven Dance,[1] produced by Break the Floor. The Dance Awards was first held in 2011 in New York City, where it continued to be held annually in 2012 and 2013. In 2014, the competition expanded to two locations, Las Vegas and New York City. It continued to be held this way for another year in 2015. However, in 2016 and 2017, the second location was changed to Orlando instead of New York City.

The competition is usually held in the first week of July.

Famous competitors

There have been several competitors that have competed or appeared on several other talent or dancing shows such as America's Got Talent, World of Dance, Dance Moms, Dancing with the Stars, and So You Think You Can Dance. Those competitors include Jenna Johnson, Kalani Hilliker, Briar Nolet, Tate McRae, Brynn Rumfallo, JoJo Siwa, Eva Igo, Maddie Ziegler, Elliana Walmsley, and Mackenzie Ziegler.

New York City

New York City was the original location for the competition in 2011, but it was replaced by Orlando in 2016.

Studio of the Year Winners

YearStudioDirector(s)
2011 Joanne Chapman School of Dance Joanne Chapman
2012 Center Stage Performing Arts Studio Kim Delgrosso and Alex Murillo
2013 JCSOD Frank Giorgio
2014 Elite Danceworx Dawn Rappitt
2015 Joanne Chapman School of Dance Joanne Chapman

Male Best Dancer Winners

YearSeniorTeenJuniorMini
2011 Daniel Gaymon (Columbia City Jazz) Ricky Ubeda (Stars Dance Studio) Jonathan Wade (Dance Unlimited) Travis Atwood (Talent Factory)
2012 Ricky Ubeda (Stars Dance Studio) Kyle Patrick Clark (Elite Danceworx) D'Angelo Castro (Dance Town) Jamaii Melvin (Dance Empire of Miami)
2013 Zelig Williams (Southern Strutt) Zenon Zubyk (Elite Danceworx) Julian Lombardi (JCSOD) Joey Britt (Southern Strutt)
2014 Keanu Uchida (Leeming Danceworx) Julian Elia (Elite Danceworx) Findlay McConnell (Elite Danceworx) Brady Farrar (Stars Dance Studio)
2015 Kyle Patrick Clarke (Elite Danceworx) Logan Hernandez (Stars Dance Studio) Murphy Lee (Performing Dance Arts) Tristan Ianiero (Art & Soul Dance Company)

Female Best Dancer winners

YearSeniorTeenJuniorMini
2011 Bianca Melchior (Elite Danceworx) Sarah Pippin (CC & Co. Dance Complex) Jayci Kalb (The Dance Centre) Leara Stanley (CC & Co. Dance Complex)
2012 Jenna Johnson (Center Stage Performing Arts Studio) Jazzmin James (Elite Danceworx) Payton Johnson (Jean Leigh Academy of Dance) Talia Seitel (Murrieta Dance Project)
2013 Miriam Gittens (The Dance Studio of Fresno) Christina Ricucci (Murrieta Dance Project) Kalani Hilliker (Club Dance Studio) Tate McRae (Drewitz Dance Productions)
2014 Brianne Sellars (Dancemakers of Atlanta) Jayci Kalb (The Dance Centre) Sophia Lucia (RT Dance Academy) Kayla Mak (Westchester Dance Academy)
2015 Jazzmin James (Elite Danceworx) Payton Johnson (Jean Leigh Academy of Dance) Tate McRae (YYC Dance Project) Jezzaeyah Slack (Joanne Chapman School of Dance)

Las Vegas

Las Vegas was introduced as a location in 2014. It is widely considered to be the toughest place to compete as the most prestigious dance companies choose to attend the Las Vegas competition instead of the Orlando or New York City locations.

Studio of the Year winners

YearStudioDirector(s)
2014 Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Centre Camille Billelo Gross
2015 The Dance Studio of Fresno Sue Sampson-Dalena
2016 Larkin Dance Studio Molly Larkin and Michele Larkin
2017 Club Dance Studio Kelli Wilkins
2018 Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Centre Camille Billelo Gross
2019 Center Stage Performing Arts Studio Alex Murillo, Robin Murillo and Kim Delgrosso
2021 The Rock Center for Dance Quinn Callahan
Club Dance Studio Kelli Wilkins
Larkin Dance Studio Molly Larkin-Symanietz and Michele Larkin-Wagner
Danceology Nicole Lucia
Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Centre Camille Billelo Gross
2022 Danceology Nicole Lucia
2023 Larkin Dance Studio Molly Larkin-Symanietz and Michele Larkin-Wagner
2024 Expressenz Dance Center Karla Geier

Male Best Dancer winners (LAS VEGAS)

YearSeniorTeenJuniorMini
2014 Eric Scholoesser (Michelle Latimer Dance Academy) Lex Ishimoto (West Coast School of the Arts) Carter Williams (Center Stage Performing Arts Studio) Joziah German (Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Centre)
2015 Michael Hall (Columbia City Jazz) Graham Feeny (Company C Dance Club) Ryan Maw (Danceology) Gavin Morales (The Rage)
2016 Lex Ishimoto (West Coast School of the Arts) Sage Rosen (The Company) Holden Maples (Just for Kicks) Artyon Celestine (Murrieta Dance Project)
2017 Timmy Blankenship (Artistic Fusion Dance Academy) Ryan Maw (Danceology) Tristan Ianiero (Art & Soul Dance Company) JT Church (Club Dance Studio)
2018 Christian Smith (The Rock Center for Dance) Joziah German (Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Centre) Jonathan Paula (Canadian Dance Unit) Hudson Pletcher (Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Academy)
2019 Findlay McConnell (Elite Danceworx) Holden Maples (Westlake Dance Center) Stefania Bonomo (Elite Danceworx) Aedyn Bekker (Murrieta Dance Project)
2021Alex Shulman (Danceology)Caleb Abea (Larkin Dance Studio)Cooper Macalalad (The Base Center for Dance)Jacob Barrow (Danceology)
2022 Moses Rankine (Elite Danceworx) Luke Barrett (Dance Attack! - Los Gatos) Keenan Mentzos (PULSE Dance Centre) Matthew Conway (Next Step Dance)
2023 Isaiah Villegas (Dance Connection 2) Patricio Lopez (Flash Dance Studio) Kazuma Brailsford (Honululu Dance Studio) Tristan Jones (Gotta Dance Academy)
2024 Hudson Pletcher (Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Center)Zachary Roy (Dance Town) Matthew Conway (Next Step Dance) Chase Lang (Larkin Dance Studio)

Female Best Dancer winners

YearSeniorTeenJuniorMini
2014 Alyssa Allen (Westside Dance Project) Simrin Player (Club Dance Studio) Emma Sutherland (Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Studio) Brynn Rumfallo (Club Dance Studio)
2015 Ashley Green (Columbia City Jazz) Lucy Vallely (Elevation Studios) Jaycee Wilkins (Club Dance Studio) Avery Gay (Limitless at Master Ballet)
2016 Taylor Sieve (Larkin Dance Studio) Emma Sutherland (Dance Industry Performing Arts Center) Emma York (Danceology) Kiarra Waidelich (The Rock Center For Dance)
2017 Simrin Player (Club Dance) Megan Goldstein (Westside Dance Project) Avery Gay (Master Ballet Academy) Brightyn Brems (Center Stage Performing Arts Studio)
2018 Lucy Vallely (Westside Dance Project) Tate McRae (YYC Dance Project) Kiarra Waidelich (The Rock Center For Dance) Elliana Walmsley (Michelle Latimer Dance Academy)
2019 Ellie Wagner (Larkin Dance Studio) Bostyn Brown (Club Dance Studio) Addison Leich (WESTSIDE Dance Project) Crystal Huang (The Rock Center For Dance)
2021 Ella Horan (WESTSIDE Dance Project) Savannah Kristich (The Rock Center For Dance) Crystal Huang (The Rock Center For Dance) Kelsie Jacobson (Larkin Dance Studio)
2022 Brianna Keingatti (Columbia Performing Arts Centre) Avery Hall (Danceology) Taylor Morrison (Dance Connection 2) Finley Ashfield (Larkin Dance Studio)
2023Carly Thinfen (Nor Cal Performing Arts)Crystal Huang (The Rock Centre for Dance)Fiona Wu (Yoko's Dance and Performing Arts)Malia Scott (Larkin Dance Studio)
2024 Izzy Howard (Westside Dance Project) Kylie Kaminsky (Danceology) Skylar Wong (Woodbury Dance Center) Belle Marie Arauz (Dance Town)

Orlando

In 2016 Orlando replaced New York City as the second competition location.

Studio of the Year Winners

YearStudioDirector
2016 Dance Town Manny Castro and Lory Castro
2017 Vlad's Dance Company Vlad Novitski
2018 Performing Dance Arts Ashley Daychak
2019 Vlad's Dance Company Vlad Novitski

Male Best Dancer Winners

YearSeniorTeenJuniorMini
2016 Jonathan Wade (Dance Unlimited) D'Angelo Castro (Dance Town) Parker Garrison (Stars Dance Studio) Jonathan Paula (The Dance Zone)
2017 Wyeth Walker (Denise Wall Dance Energy) Findlay McConnell (Elite Danceworx) Brady Farrar (Stars Dance Studio) Stefania Bonomo (Elite Danceworx)
2018 Michael Novitski (Vlad's Dance Company) Joey Gertin (Elite Danceworx) Jackson Foley (Performing Dance Arts) Anthony LaGrega (companyONE)
2019 D'Angelo Castro (Dance Town) Murphy Lee (Performing Dance Arts) Timothy Zvifel (Vlad's Dance Company) Ian Stegeman (Woodbury Dance Center)
2021Jaxon Willard (Center Stage Performing Arts Studio)Brady Farrar (Stars Dance Studio)Ian Stegeman (Woodbury Dance Center)Michael Cash Savio (Stars Dance Studio)
2022 Seth Gibson (Studio 413) Nicholas Moreno (Upstate Carolina Dance Center) Zachary Roy (Dance Town) Dylan Custodio (Stars Dance Studio)
2023 Sam Fine (Stars Dance Studio) Ian Stegeman (Woodbury Dance Center) Santiago Sosa (Stars Dance Studio) Damian Shillis (Canadian Dance Company)
2024Jackson Roloff-Hafenbreadl (Stars Dance Studio)Kylan Wright (Stars Dance Studio)Neo Del Corral (Stars Dance Studio)Isaiah Santos (Stars Dance Studio)

Female Best Dancer Winners

YearSeniorTeenJuniorMini
2016 Jayci Kalb (The Dance Centre) Morgan Higgins (Denise Wall Dance Energy) Bostyn Brown (Club Dance Studio) Diana Pombo (Stars Dance Studio)
2017 Payton Johnson (Jean Leigh Academy of Dance) Quinn Starner (Stars Dance Studio) Bella Klassen (YYC Dance Project) Hailey Bills (Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Centre)
2018 Morgan Higgins (Denise Wall Dance Energy) Kelis Robinson (Elite Danceworx) Ava Wagner (Larkin Dance Studio) Cameron Voorhees (Evolve Dance Complex)
2019 Vivian Ruiz (Stars Dance Studio) Ruby Castro (Dance Town) Keagan Capps (The Pointe Performing Arts Center) Gracyn French (Project 21)
2021 Kayla Mak (Westchester Dance Academy) Dyllan Blackburn (Project 21) Cameron Voorhees (Evolve Dance Complex) Kya Massimino (Stars Dance Studio)
2022 Ruby Castro (Dance Town) Hailey Bills (Center Stage Performing Arts Center) Kylee Casares (Stars Dance Studio) Skylar Wong (Woodbury Dance Center)
2023 Julia Lowe (Elite Danceworx) Cameron Voorhees (Evolve Dance Complex) Zoe Flores (Stars Dance Studio) Ellary Day Szyndlar (Club Dance Studio)
2024 Sierra Drayton (Elite Danceworx)Giselle Gandarilla (Stars Dance Studio) Regan Gerena (Project 21)Sylvie Win Szyndlar (Club Dance Studio)

LIVE

The Dance Awards LIVE was held online in 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Female Best Dancer Winners

Repeat Winners

Two Time Winners

Three Time Winners

Mini 2013, Junior 2015, Teen 2018

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Universal Ballet Competition. July 2021.