Burn the Floor dancers invited to New York all-stars training

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Burn the Floor, Diversity in Dance, studio’s competitive team recently returned from a Kids Artistic Review competition in Billings, Mont., with an invitation to New York City. Ten dancers were invited to attend the All Star Dancers Convention in June 2014.

The dancers will spend five days in the heart of Times Square, staying at the Marriott Marquis Hotel. They will experience master dance classes taught by the Radio City Music Hall’s Rockettes and Broadway staff. They will attend two Broadway productions and behind-the-scenes tours.

“It’s an opportunity of a lifetime, especially for children here in Dickinson,” Burn the Floor director/choreographer Nikki St. John said.

She admitted being surprised by the invitation, saying there were plenty of other studios in contention for an invitation.

The judges in Billings hand-picked the dancers based on their performances throughout the day.

“I think it was a combination of their technical skills, plus their performance abilities — the two things go hand in hand,” St. John said.

As their instructor, she also will participate in New York classes that will cover topics such as marketing, discipline in the classroom and master classes.

“It’s to keep teachers on their toes and being in the groove of new things occurring in dance,” St. John said.

The dancers are delaying the New York trip until 2014 to allow enough time to fundraise the $3,000 per student.

The students who qualified to attend are Katrina Johnson, Bailee Farnsworth, Justine Anderson, Krista Dutchuk, Mystika Booke, Skyler Foss, Liz Brown, Keyona Elkins, Gillian Biscomb and Allie Schmidt.

Dancer Justine Anderson considers the trip as a huge learning experience.

“The Rockettes have performed in every Thanksgiving parade and everybody knows about them — and they will be teaching us,” Anderson said. “It’s like a dream.”

She also gives credit to St. John for the opportunity.

“Nikki is a constant supporter — she’s there for us with dance and in life,” she said. “We wouldn’t be going to New York if it wasn’t for her.”

Dancer Katrina Johnson said being selected for the trip is an honor.

“It will be a great experience, learning from other people,” she said. “The goal is that the community helps raise money to support us.”

A benefit account has been established at the American Bank Center — Burn the Floor-NYC account. Donations also can be made at the holiday production Friday.

To learn more about the program, visit the website, www.artistic-adven

tures.net.

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