NHAPA students compete in annual dance competition

Every year the Seacoast Civic Dance Company partakes in one competition. Instructors tell the students it is very important to experience competitions to both learn from the faculty that teach and judge, as well as to gain experience in audition-like scenarios after they graduate from the studio.

The New Hampshire Academy of Performing Arts (NHAPA) competed in the Nuvo Dance Convention at the Sheraton Copley in Boston, MA, from February 7 to 9. Members from around the Seacoast area danced and competed for NHAPA. Eight Winnacunnet students participated in the competition. Those members include: Sarah O’Leary, Adam Cico, Holly Saunders, Marissa Lambert, Addie Wickson, Brooke Cooper, Amanda Heintzleman and Gianna Simonelli.

Senior Amanda Heintzleman has been dancing for fourteen years.

“I do ballet, pointe, lyrical, jazz, tap, contemporary, and hip hop,” Heintzleman said. “Tap is my favorite. I have been doing it the longest and I think it is one of the styles that I am the best at.”

Sophomore Adam Cico has been dancing for five years.

“Dance started out for me partially from watching dancing shows on TV which inspired me to take a hip hop class in 6th grade,” Cico said. “I do dance of all styles including contemporary, tap, jazz, hip hop, and lyrical. My favorite style is tap.”

Sophomore Marissa Lambert has been dancing for nine years.

“I do ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, contemporary, and lyrical,” Lambert said. “My favorite style is tap.”

The group competed in lyrical, jazz, hip hop, tap, pointe/ballet and contemporary numbers. As well as one jazz production piece with the whole company.

“Production piece: Greatest Showman remix, jazz: Lose My Breath by Destiny’s Child, hip hop: Pure Water remix, tap: Proud Mary by Tina Turner, lyrical: Ready for a Miracle, pointe: Paquita, contemporary: Walking in Wonderland,” Heintzleman shared.

The dance company participates in one competition/ convention each year and they spend the rest of the year doing community performances and preparing for their annual gala in March and their recital in June.

“We do one competition each year,” Lambert said. “We also do a lot of outdoor shows during the year too such as Children’s day and Market Square Day in Portsmouth, a Breast Cancer walk in Exeter and Prescott Park to name a few.”