On the weekend of April 13-15, dancers from Astra Studio of Dance and Performing Arts in Old Saybrook attended the BravO! Talent Competition at North Branford High School. The dancers competed among more than 500 entries from Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts.

Soloist Charlee Brockett earned a platinum for her open routine, overall first place in the Junior Encore Solo Division, and a special judge’s award called Contortionist Cutie for her outstanding execution of acrobatics and contortion. An acrobatics duet performed by Elleyana Barbieri and Sadie Heiser earned an elite high gold, second place overall in the Petite Overture Duo/Trio Division, and won a special judge’s award for cute concept, choreography, and costumes.

The Junior team earned elite high golds for its jazz and contemporary routines. The juniors’ contemporary routine was selected for a special judge’s award for being completely committed to the storyline and its use of props. The Senior team earned elite high golds for its jazz and contemporary routines with the jazz routine receiving a special judge’s award, Future Cirque. The Juniors and Seniors also earned an elite high gold for their combined tap routine.

Soloists Emma Brockett (lyrical) and Jillian Pernal (open category) both earned elite high golds for their performances, and soloists Callie Andrews (tap), Emma Golembeski (musical theatre), and Amanda Pernal (lyrical) earned high golds for their routines. A lyrical duet performed by Samantha Sharpe and Mackenzie True also earned a high gold.

Junior team members are Charlee Brockett of Essex, Emma Golembeski from Gales Ferry, Vivi Heiser of Chester, and Westbrook’s Samantha Sharpe and Mackenzie True. The Senior team members are Callie Andrews of Clinton, Emma Brockett from Essex, Juliette Linares of Chester, and Amanda Pernal and Jillian Pernal both from Old Saybrook. Mini team member Elleyana Barbieri is from Old Saybrook, and fellow team member Sadie Heiser is from Chester.

Astra Studio, under the direction of Brittany Wigglesworth, will perform its 2018 recital, Something in the Water, on Saturday, June 2 at the Old Saybrook Middle School. For info on upcoming classes, visit www.astrastudioct.com or contact 860-304-4314 or info@astrastudioct.com.

Information courtesy of Nanci-Lyn Lockwood