The dancer at the Gallo Dance Studio has one goal for the upcoming season.
Make it back to nationals and win another national title.
The studio had multiple dancers compete at the Groove Dance Competition this summer and brought home six national titles.
Dance instructor Sophia Hodges said the trip was exciting for not only the students but the teachers.
“It’s exciting and it was overwhelming to see how well they did,” she said. “They were up against studios from huge cities and for them to do so well is huge for them.”
The school placed first in Intermediate Petite Duo/Trio for “Thunder”, Intermediate Petite Small Group for “Perm,” Intermediate Teen Large Group for “Weathered”, Intermediate Senior Duo/Trip for “Your Day will Come”, Intermediate 12 and Under Line for “History,” and Intermediate/Competitive Mini/Petite Small Groups for “Perm.”
“It was the biggest thing they had ever been to and for them to do so well is huge for them,” Hodges said.
The school also placed second in Intermediate Petite Solo, Intermediate Junior Small Group, Intermediate Teen Small Group and Intermediate-Senior Solo. The school placed third in Intermediate Teen Solo, Intermediate Senior Solo, Intermediate Teen Small Group, Intermediate/Competitive 12 and Under Line, The school also won one fifth place award in intermediate Junior Large Group, two seventh-place awards in Intermediate Junior Small Group, and Intermediate/Competitive Junior Small Group and one eighth place award in Intermediate Junior Small Group.
The School was also awarded the professionalism award.
In order to get the go to nationals, the school had to compete at a regional competition. They placed so well they advanced to nationals.
The athletes said the trip to Myrtle Beach, where the competition was held, was the experience of a lifetime.
Hadley McDonald, 9, said the trip was fun.
“We got to hang out with our whole team and we stuck together everywhere we went,” she said. “We made it to the finals and won first place.”
Abigail Bello, 9, said she felt happy when they won first place.
“I knew we were going to win,” she said.
Madilyn Kelly, 10, said she likes dancing because it’s freeing.
Kelly said she was pretty confident the team was going to win.
“It was exciting,” she said.
During their off time, the girls went parasailing, putt putt golfing and spent time at the beach.
Studio owner Jan Gallo said she thinks the closeness of the athletes helps them be stronger when they compete.
“They are here quite a few hours during the week. They dance as a team and they don’t really do it for themselves, they do it for the team,” she said.
Grace Getty, 12, said she was nervous performing at nationals but it was exciting.
“Dancing is amazing, I can express myself and have fun with my friends,” she said.
Olivia Getty, 11, said being able to go to the beach and dance was the best part of the trip.
“There were so many good dancers there,” she said. “I was so surprised how good everyone was.”
The teens placed well too at the competition.
Callie Ingram, 17, said she enjoys dancing because they are all one big family.
“I have gotten close to all the girls here,” she said.
Samantha Naylor, 14, said the bond of the athletes is what makes dancing so special.
“I love dancing with my family because we are so close,” she said.
Naylor said the Gallos are really encouraging and nice.
“They always support us and motivate us to do better,” she said.
Kaitlyn Hess, 17, said she enjoys bonding with her teammates and always tries to keep the team motivated.
“I just try to stay positive all the time,” she said.
Ava Mills, 17, said people often think dance is easy.
“It’s really hard,” she said.
Mills said her family was very excited when she placed second.
“I couldn’t do it without them,” she said.
Naylor placed third overall on her teen solo, Hess placed third and Mills placed second.
Gallo said she hopes people understand how hard her dancers work not only at their sport, but also at their school work.
Gallo said a lot of the dancers are straight A students.
“ It is a very disciplined sport, they work really hard and have to manage their time,” she said.
Performers of “Perm” include: Ava Gallo, Lily Ahart, Brynn Ikemire, Hadley Mcdonald, Adeline Stevens, Madilyn Kelley, Abigail Bello , Raegan Wheatley
