Printer Friendly Version - Astra Studio Performs Well in Virtual Competitions

The Astra Studio of Dance and Performing Arts saw its tap routine of Hair put forth a five-star performance at a recent Star Dance Alliance virtual competition. Pictured are Vivi Heiser (Chester), Jillian Pernal (Old Saybrook), Emma Golembeski (Gales Ferry), and Elleyana Barbieri (Old Saybrook). Photo courtesy of Astra Studio of Dance and Performing Arts

Throughout the summer, a handful of dancers from the Astra Studio of Dance and Performing Arts in Old Saybrook entered routines into a pair of virtual competitions: the Star Dance Alliance Virtual World Competition and the Star Dance Alliance Ultimate Solo Experience. The nine routines that Astra performed were entered among more than 3,000 routines from all over the globe. Several divisions featured 150 or more entries and included dancers from Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and China.

Earning five stars and placing in the overall standings for their divisions on behalf of Astra were the lyrical duo Some Things Are Meant to Be (8th place), the tap routine Hair (13th), and the jazz routine Steppin' to the Bad Side (17th). Astra's large group musical theater routine of Kinky Boots scored 4 ¾ stars and placed 18th in its division.

Soloist Vivi Heiser of Chester competed with a lyrical routine for All That Matters at both the Star Dance Alliance Virtual World Competition and the Star Dance Alliance Ultimate Solo Experience. Heiser scored 4 ¾ stars, advanced to round two of the Ultimate Solo Experience, and earned a special award called The Art of Video for creative use of the medium in presenting the routine.

Soloist Emma Golembeski of Gales Ferry competed with a contemporary routine for Mr. Sandman, earning 4 ¾ stars and a special award called Expressive Emotion.

Soloist Jillian Pernal of Old Saybrook performed a contemporary routine called Parting Words and earned 4 ¾ stars. Soloist Elleyana Barbieri, also an Old Saybrook resident, performed an open routine for Don't Rain on My Parade and earned 4 ¾ stars.

In addition to the soloists, dancers performing in the competitions for Astra included Sadie Heiser of Chester, Kora Chapman, Emma Elgart, and Teagan Iglesias of Old Saybrook; Molly George from Clinton, and Julia DeSousa and Isadora Souza of Westbrook.

Registration for the new season is open and ongoing through October. Astra Studio, which is under the direction of Brittany Wigglesworth, is currently located in the Estuary Center in Old Saybrook. For info, contact 860-304-4314 or info@astrastudioct.com.

Astra’s dancers perform in their jazz routine Steppin’ to the Bad Side. Pictured clockwise are Vivi Heiser (Chester), Elleyana Barbieri (Old Saybrook), Emma Golembeski (Gales Ferry), and Emma Elgart (Old Saybrook). Photo courtesy of Astra Studio of Dance and Performing Arts

Chester resident Vivi Heiser advanced to round two of the Star Dance Alliance Ultimate Solo Experience for her lyrical routine for All That Matters. Photo courtesy of Astra Studio of Dance and Performing Arts

Astra’s company dancers compete in their large group musical theatre routine of Kinky Boots. Pictured are (back left) Sadie Heiser (Chester), Kora Chapman (Old Saybrook), and Isadora Souza (Westbrook) with (front) Emma Golembeski (Gales Ferry) and (back right) Teagan Iglesias (Old Saybrook), Molly George (Clinton), and Julia DeSousa (Westbrook). Photo courtesy of Astra Studio of Dance and Performing Arts