— Submitted photos Dancers pictured include:Carly Appel, Natalie Asklund, Meredith Binder, Abby Blake, Gemma Borer, Hailey Brim, Avery Buresh, Kenley Chaplin, Ashtyn DeCoster, Payton DeCoster, Haakon Edwards, Shelby Eide, Haley Foster, Jenna Geopfert, Kailey Geopfert, Morgan Hansen, Addison Hayes, Paityn Hurt, Rylee Hurt, Anna Irvin, Harper Kopriva, Amanda Lahr, Gabbie Larson, Grace Larson, Jillian Leman, Lauren Lettow, Marissa Lindstrom, Emily Lovelace, Kaitlyn Lovelace, Madison Lovelace, Delaney Lyons, Halle Mason, Jackson Meyer, Brooklyn Neddermeyer, Cinestie Olson, Addilyn Orton, Taryn Owen, Emersen Paukert, Cydney Schmidt, Madi Schwering, Allie Severe, Angel Sharar, Cami Snell, Keyara Tigner, Ellie Weinschenk, Izzy Weinschenk and Greenlee Williams.

Webster City’s TDComp group at The Dance Connection (TDC) recently wrapped up its current competition season, bringing home numerous awards.  The dancers participated in three competitions throughout the spring: Celebrity Dance and Kids Artistic Review, both in Ames; and Talent on Parade in Des Moines.

“We competed against 700 to 800 dancers from surrounding states at these regional events, and we did really, really well,” said TDC director Becky Harfst. She is especially proud of the dancers’ showings, taking into account that many of their competitors were from larger schools and communities.  “We were going against schools from larger communities, just like our local/area athletes sometimes compete against larger schools.”

“Our biggest award this year was when we received the “Routine of the Weekend” at Kids Artistic Review, for having the highest scoring dance overall.” The routine was titled, “Never Give Up.”

TDComp dancers spend months learning and preparing their competition entries. “We start in June with conditioning and strength training, and learn routines to get them set by August when we take a few weeks off before school and regular dance classes start,” Harfst explains. “We finish up, clean and polish routines throughout the year before competition in the spring.”

Dancers compete in categories based on age and skill level: Mini, Junior, Pre-Teen, Teen and Premiere. Solos, duets, trios and small groups enter routines in tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary and hip hop categories, competing for awards in choreography, costuming and showmanship. Harfst said judges look for the “overall picture,” and take music, costuming, technique and emotion into account. There is also a large group production number featuring all the dancers. Each year, the TDComp large group number has a theme or story. This year, it was titled, “‘Go Cubs Go!” a tribute to the Chicago Cubs baseball team.

As The Dance Connection wraps up its year of classes with the TDComp Showcase on May 11 and full recital on May 12, Harfst is already researching music and choreographing routines for the coming year.

She said that while she is proud of the dancers and how well they fared this year in competition, they “go to grow,” in their performance and personal skills. Harfst explained that each year, the competition dancers focus on one dance aspect that will help them be better performers. This past season, they emphasized emotion and telling the story of the routine.

Harfst complimented her students on how efficiently they balance all their activities. “These kids are busy – they’re good students, many of them are cheerleaders and in sports, they’re involved in school activities, they have jobs – they’re just good people,” she said.

The director said much of the success of her school goes to her fellow instructors: Joa Rolffs, Kristin Elm, Grace Chelesvig, Melissa Bock, Hannah Harfst and Madeline Ogg, and office staff: Angie Mason, Lisa Severe, Casey Asklund and Missy Larson. “I can’t do everything, and they all help in so many ways.”