By Bethany Sanderson/reporter
NW students showed their stuff April 26 at the third annual So You Think You Can Dance competition.
Contestants, some with their own choreography, from all levels of NW dance classes performed for two judges: Humanities Dean Mike Matthews and former NW dance student Amanda Wright.
All types of dance were represented with ballet, modern, Broadway jazz and hip-hop, just to name a few.
The judges gave feedback on musicality, technicality and facial expression.
Dancers either competed solo or in groups of three to four.
As she judged a particular group, Wright said each dancer heard the music differently. She also said it is harder to dance clean when you put a group together.
Matthews said everything counts, referring to the small details, including make-up that connects the dancers in a group.
Other judge comments referenced performers having fun and using upbeat choreography with good formations and levels.
Photos by Martina Treviño/The Collegian
A group of three girls and one boy won first place.
The group performed a hip-hip routine including tutting and a “money-throwing” finale.
The winning members were Chris Ruiz, Andrea Paris, Desi Herlein and Tiffany Willis.
Herlein said they just wanted to have fun in their performance.
Second-place winners performed a piece called “You Lost Me.” Members included Andrew Gern, Kayla Fuller and Paulina Zelinsk.
Fuller said she practiced a lot on her own for this piece.
Choreographer Gern said as a group, they rehearsed for only three days.
Third-place winners were Kristina Villalobos, Pamela Valenzuela and Maryanne Ramos. The girls dressed alike in pink T-shirts and black dance pants performing to “On the Floor.”
The first-, second- and third-place winners received recognition as well as gift cards.
A fourth place was named as an honorable mention.
The winners of this competition will perform in the NW informal concert on May 6.
