Jul. 28—GRAND FORKS — Members of the North Dakota Ballet Company Competition Teams won first place, earning the title "National Grand Champions" for the first time, at the Celebration Talent Competition National Finals last week in Duluth, said Laura Arneson, NDBC executive director.
"(It) is just incredible for them to achieve such an honor," Arneson said.
NDBC also received second place overall with the Diamond Competition Team's performance of a senior small-group lyrical piece, titled "Disconnected." Those dancers are Laural Anderson, Lindsey Anderson, Adelle Erickson, Ginny Hutton and Sydney Rud.
At nationals, 23 dancers from the NDBC competition teams competed in a variety of category styles, age groups and levels, she said. Individual dancers and teams "took home numerous category wins, overall wins, along with outstanding adjudication recognitions and special judges' awards."
NDBC dancers selected to compete as "Dancer of the Year" are Sydney Rud, Laurel Anderson, Grace Orr, AnaLynn Suedel and Hailey Kalis, Arneson said. They all took part in the semifinals and convention class throughout the Nationals week, July 12-17.
The Diamond and Jade competition teams achieved the highest honor of the competition, scoring the highest out of more than 500 routines. They received the title of 2023 National Champions with their "Into the Dark" contemporary teen large-group piece, Arneson said. Those team members are Laural Anderson, Lindsey Anderson, Adelle Erickson, Ginny Hutton, Sydney Rud, Elsa Dudley, Grace Orr, Sasha Poltavski, Lauren Speidel and AnaLynn Suedel.
"We couldn't be more proud of the hard work of these teams, competing against hundreds of routines and studios around the country — (and) the outstanding choreography and instruction from our dance faculty," Arneson said.
Other NDBC dancers who attended the national competition event are Isabelle Cebula, Seren Gibbs, Jocelyn Jacobson, Melanie Kayl, Jada Stafford, Ashley Anderson, Kate Bukowski, Piper Gibbs, Elizabeth Nelson, Ana Warne, Tia Young and Carly Anderson.
"I was so incredibly proud watching all of our dancers shine on stage," said Lauren Paulsen, NDBC artistic director and Academy director. "They are more than just performers; they truly are young artists who have an obvious passion and love for dance."
Dance student Adelle Erickson, who graduated from Climax-Shelly High School in May, said, "Competing at nationals is such a fun experience. I always look forward to the years that we attend it. Doing well at this high of a level and seeing your hard work pay off is really special."