Imagine Dance Competition

March 22, 2021

Imagine Dance Competition

Abby’s dance competition team competed at Imagine Dance Competition in Wilmington (Ohio, not Delaware (!)). Specifically it was held at the Roberts Centre (quite a fancy French spelling for the word, “Center” for a location that is in rural Ohio but I am not judging it ;)). From our house, it was an almost exactly 30 minute drive.

The competition was in block format but there was one other studio in our block. That was a good thing since it spaced our dances out more and gave more of a normal feeling to the competition. The other dance studio was from Michigan. Enjoyed hearing some good Michigan accents (“ack´ cents”) when we passed by dancers and teachers from the other studio in the hallway and the Michiganders could not have been kinder on social media (Abby posted some pictures on IG and tagged Imagine. Imagine reposted it and some of the dancers from the other studio saw and responded kindly on Abby’s post).

The block that Abby’s studio was in started at 8:00 am on Saturday. If I had to choose, I would not have chosen 8:00 am but of course I was not consulted!! We had to be at the venue half an hour early so we left the house at 7:00 am. We woke up way earlier than we needed to because we were afraid we’d oversleep. Getting up super early was nothing an early bedtime later on Saturday couldn't ameliorate...

Abby’s dances all went well. She did a great job on her solos and in her group routines. All too soon it was over. There was a quasi awards at the conclusion of the block. Since the competition was far from over (it wouldn’t end until later on Sunday), it was impossible for the overall awards to be handed out. The overall awards were live-streamed late on Sunday evening when the entire competition was completed. Abby ended up winning title and coming in second place in the overalls for solos for her age/ division. She competed against 35 routines so second place was awesome!

Here are a few pictures of Abby’s dances. The pictures loaded out of order and I’m not going to re-sort them. Her solo routines are probably pretty obvious. Her group musical theater dance consists of many other dancers and they’re all wearing black costumes. She and her duo partner Sophia are wearing pants in her duo.

The following are some pictures that I took with my iphone (above pics were all ones taken professionally that I purchased). Snapped this one of the stage and fancy chandelier.

Right before the block awards started... Normally, the stage would be filled with dancers waiting to hear results. That was not the case this time. The studio from Michigan sat together on the left and Abby’s studio sat on the right.

At the block awards...

Two of the dancers from this block received special awards/ scholarships. Abby was one of them. I don’t remember exactly what she won- I think it was a scholarship to a dance intensive. Normally, Abby would have received a paper certificate of the award but due to Covid she didn’t.

Had a full circle type moment- When Shaun, the Imagine program director, was talking to Abby up on stage, he told her that she was, “Born to be on stage.” That statement is poignant because it is something that I’ve heard stated exactly one other time. That was in 2011, the first year that Abby competed a solo. Abby won the Entertainer award of entire large dance competition (CoDance) and the announcer stated when she won that award that Abby was, “Born to be on stage.”

I hope that Abby keeps performing in some capacity beyond dance competitions once this season is complete.

At the awards for the block, Shaun asked all of the seniors in high school to step forward. He said such nice things to them- about sticking with dance even after the craziness of last year. I don’t remember everything he said but I know what he said brought tears to my eyes. It was really nice of him to acknowledge the seniors in this way.

He then had each senior introduce herself and say what her plans were for after high school.

Abby with her grandpa- He has always been one of Abby’s biggest fan and best supporters. Abby’s grandpa’s brother, Doug, lived out of state for the first few years that Abby danced. When he moved back to Ohio, he started attending Abby’s recitals and competitions. After Doug watched one of Abby’s dance recitals for the first time, he remarked to me, “Wow, Abby really is a good dancer. Don (his brother and Abby’s grandpa) told me that she was good but I thought he may have just been saying that since she’s his granddaughter. But she really is good!” Love that grandpa bragged on Abby and he was right!!