Dancers from the Joyce Matthies Dance Centre in Albert Lea recently attended three dance competitions in the Twin Cities and came home with many awards.

At the 20th annual Challenge Cup Competition held at Jefferson High School in Bloomington, Sierra Scherf won a high gold for her lyrical solo. Bringing home gold awards were the small jazz group of Jill Jensen, Allyssa Sorenson, Korbin Wayne, Sara Judd, Britnni Lair, Amy Horejsi and Jackie Elwood and the small tap group danced by Amy Horejsi, Anna Brouwers, Jalen Jiminez, Rachel Tamke, Molly Tuohy, Celine Harmon, Sondra Ness and Kristina Larsen. The lyrical duet danced by Krista Horejsi and Sierra Scherf also won a gold award.

The Dancer Competition was held at the Fitzgerald Theater in St Paul. The large group jazz that performed “Bellville Jungle” won a high gold. They were Megan Cunningham, Katie Sorenson, Jina Olson, Kirsten Staloch, Justine Johnson, Jill Jensen, Allyssa Sorenson, Korbin Wayne, Sara Judd, Brittni Lair, and Jackie Elwood and “Goody Goody” danced by the large tap group of Sierra Scherf, Breann Sorenson, Nicole Greibrok, Mariah McGill, Katie Sorenson, Jina Olson, Kirsten Staloch, Alicia Davis, Paige Onstad, and Cori Madson. Also winning high gold was the small ballet group of Sierra Scherf, Mariah McGill, Mikki Tuohy and Allie Harmon and the small group musical theater jazz dance performed by Sierra Scherf, Nicole Greibrok. Mariah McGill, Breann Sorenson, Mikki Tuohy and Allie Harmon. The fifth high gold was in the open category to &uot;Those We Do Not Speak Of.&uot; It was danced by Nicole Greibrok, Mariah McGill, Sierra Scherf, Breann Sorenson, Mikki Tuohy and Allie Harmon.

Coming home with gold awards were the small tap group of Jalen Jiminez, Anna Brouwers, Molly Tuohy, Celine Harmon, Rachel Tamke, Sondra Ness, Kristina Larsen and Alex Jahnke; the large group musical theater jazz performed by Katie Sorenson, Jina Olson, Megan Cunningham, Justine Johnson, Jill Jensen, Allyssa Sorenson, Korbin Wayne, Sara Judd, Jackie Elwood, and Brittni Lair; the small jazz group danced by Jill Jensen, Allyssa Sorenson, Brittni Lair, Jackie Elwood, Sara Judd and Korbin Wayne; and the ballet trio of Megan Cunningham, Justine Johnson and Jill Jensen.

The lyrical jazz duet performed by Nicole Greibrok and Sierra Scherf got silver. At the end of the competition the top 20 dancers were picked by the judges. These dancers can perform at the national competition held in July in Arlington Texas. Mariah McGill and Sierra Scherf were chosen to be in this elite group.

The third competition was the American Dance Awards held at the RiverCentre in St Paul. Winning a high silver was “Mein Herr” danced by Krista Horejsi, Sierra Scherf, Nicole Greibrok and Mariah McGill. This dance also won a special award for its classic effect. Silver was won by “Those We Do Not Speak Of&uot; in the lyrical group category. The dancers were Nicole Greibrok, Krista Horejsi, Sierra Scherf, Mariah McGill, Breann Sorenson, Mikki Tuohy and Allie Harmon; “Goody Goody” danced by Breann Sorenson, Mariah McGill, Nicole Greibrok, Sierra Scherf, Katie Sorenson, Jill Olson, Kirsten Staloch, Paige Onstad, Alicia Davis, and Cori Madson; and the small jazz group of Jill Jensen, Allyssa Sorenson, Jackie Elwood, Brittni Lair, Amy Horejsi, Korbin Wayne and Sara Judd. This dance also won a special award called “You Love To Dance”.

Other silver winners were the small group musical theater performed by Sierra Scherf, Krista Horejsi, Nicole Greibrok, Mariah McGill, Mikki Tuohy and Breann Sorenson; the large jazz group danced by Megan Cunningham, Justine Johnson, Katie Sorenson, Kirsten Staloch, Jina Olson, Amy Horejsi, Jackie Elwood, Brittni Lair, Sara Judd, Korbin Wayne, Allyssa Sorenson and Jill Jensen; the ballet danced by Sierra Scherf, Mariah McGill and Mikki Tuohy and the ballet trio performed by Megan Cunningham, Justine Johnson, and Jill Jensen. Taking home a high bronze was the large group musical theater danced by Katie Sorenson, Jina Olson, Megan Cunningham, Justine Johnson, Jill Jensen, Allyssa Sorenson, Sara Judd, Korbin Wayne, Brittni Lair, Jackie Elwood, and Amy Horejsi. All of the dances were choreographed by Joyce Matthies. Many of these award-winning dances will be performed in the recital held May 22 at the Albert Lea Civic Theatre.