MORGAN HILL
– Imagine a lifetime of costumes, rehearsals and
performances.
MORGAN HILL – Imagine a lifetime of costumes, rehearsals and performances.
Those years of practice have paid off for some local young dancers who will be competing in several categories, including lyrical, tap and jazz in the Showstopper National Dance Competition.
Ten girls from Dance Unlimited in Morgan Hill will be competing from July 14-18 at the Marriott Hotel in Anaheim for prizes and a chance to win a spot on the national television show, “The American Dance Championships” produced by “Showstopper” that will air during Thanksgiving.
Erin Quinn, 18, Michelle Butkivich, 16, Alisa Devlin, 13, Rebecca Butkivich, 13, Nina Feliciano, 12, Caitlin Beasley, 14, Ashley Guio, 11, Pauline Olsen, 12, Angie Magnisi, 10, Haley Price, 10 and Jordan Centeno, 7 will showcase their talent along with dancers from all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, France and many other countries.
The competition, in its 26th year, gives the girls a place to use their experience and to improve the skills and confidence they have gained from practicing and performing in dance events all over the country.
While there, the girls will get a chance to take free dance workshops, be a part of the American Dance Championship video, broadcast live on the Web.
Jackie Butkivich, owner of Dance Unlimited, said dance competition gives the girls a chance to make friends and keep in touch with people from all over the country.
“These girls really dedicate themselves and through dance, they learn early on about being competitive and to expect to be the best,” said Butkivich.
Months of practice and performing their dance routines will culminate in a few short minutes in front of the judges.
Butkivich said the girls are ready for the competition because they have been in so many others and they are used to it.
“They are pretty adaptable when it comes to doing shows,” she said. “These girls feel confident knowing they can get in front of people.”
Deana Marlitt, assistant director at Dance Unlimited, said several of the girls won awards in Northern California’s “biggest and most competitive” dance competition, Showstopper Regional, last March.
“They had to score at the “Silver” level to qualify to enter the national competition,” said Marlitt.
Butkivich said many of the girls who have danced at Dance Unlimited have gone on to find professional dance work, earn scholarships and generally do well in any career they choose.
“Dancing is a great activity,” said Butkivich. “It can take you wherever you want to go.”
Butkivich, along with Marlitt, have been making final preparations for the competition, with last minute routine and costume touch-ups.
Butkivich sews all the costumes while Marlitt coordinates all the logistics.
Not all of the girls who qualified for the national competition will get to go. Because of the fees attached to the competition, some of the girls received scholarships to help with the costs.
Most of the girls will be traveling with their parents to the dance competition.
Butkivich said all the girls will wear the same bun hair style so that the judges can see a clean look.
“They typically do each others hair and makeup,” added Butkivich.
Dance Unlimited blends choreography, precision dance techniques and gymnastics.
Butkivich said that while the girls learn to dance at her studio, they learn a lot more about values, confidence, discipline and how to be a part of a team.
Butkivich said that she has always had a passion for dancing.
“I’ve always taken dancing classes. I’ve always wanted to be like Shirley Temple,” said Butkivich, who founded Dance Unlimited in 1993.
She was working at a dance studio when she met Marlitt in a dance class.
The two have been working together for the past 11 years.
After the competition ends, they are all planning to walk across the street to Disneyland.
Dance Unlimited will present its recital, “Dance Unlimited Goes Retro,” Saturday at noon and 7 p.m. at the Studio, 15650 Vineyard Blvd. Tickets are available at the studio and are $12 at the door. 842-5393.
