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^[1]

The Dance Awards
Awarded for	Excellence in dance
Country	United States
First awarded	2011–present
Website	https://thedanceawards.com [1]

The Dance Awards is a national dance competition held annually in Las Vegas and Orlando. Dancers between the ages of five and nineteen are awarded to recognize excellence in dance. TDA is widely regarded as the most prestigious award presented for dance in the US, and is considered to be one of the toughest competitions internationally for young pre-professional dancers.

Overview[]

The Dance Awards (TDA) is a national dance competition that collaborates with Jump, Nuvo, and 24 Seven dance,^[2] produced by Break the Floor. The Dance Awards was first held in 2011 in New York City, where it continued to be held annually in 2012 and 2013. In 2014, the competition expanded to two locations, Las Vegas and New York City. It continued to be held this way for another year in 2015. However, in 2016 and 2017, instead of New York City the second location was changed to Orlando.

The competition is usually held in the first week of July.

Famous competitors[]

There have been several competitors that have competed or appeared on several other talent or dancing shows such as America's Got Talent, World of Dance, Dance Moms, Dancing with the Stars, and So You Think You Can Dance. Those competitors include Jenna Johnson, Tanisha Belnap, Ricky Ubeda, Jonathan Wade, Justin Pham, Kalani Hilliker, Maesi Caes, Landon Anderson, Teddy Coffey, Rudy Abreu, Alexia Meyer, Nick Garcia, Taylor Sieve, D'Angelo Castro, Amanda Carbajales, Briar Nolet, Gabe DeGuzman, Ruby Castro, Tate McRae, Moises Parra, Addison Moffett, Sydney Tormey, Tristan Ianiero, Sophia Lucia, Brynn Rumfallo, Derek Piquette, Tristen Sosa, Vivian Ruiz, Lex Ishimoto, Brianna Penrose, Ryan Maw, Joziah German, JoJo Siwa, Artyon Celestine, Riley Kurilko, Sage Rosen, Quinn Starner, Eva Igo, Gavin Morales, Avery Gay, Jay Jay Dixonbey, Izzy Howard, Logan Hernandez, Andres Penate, Murphy Lee, Parker Garrison, Maddie Ziegler, Ava Brooks, Mackenzie Ziegler, Brightyn Brems, Nick Daniels, Howard Johnson, Camila Schwarz, Diana Pombo, Hailey Bills, Jaxon Willard, Elliana Walmsley, Savannah Kristich, Brady Farrar, JT Church, Gino Cosculluela, Stephanie Sosa, Charity Anderson, Lauren Yakima, Kayla Mak, Findlay McConnell, Kaeli Ware, Ezra Sosa, Benjamin Castro, Shamus Moriarty, Rylee Arnold, Emma Hellenkamp, Ellie and Ava Wagner, Kiarra Waidelich, Easton Magliarditi, Bella Klassen, Ella Horan, Holden Maples, Selena Hamilton, Dyllan Blackburn, Diego Pasillas, Kamri Peterson, Bostyn Brown, Jaycee Wilkins, Savannah Manzel, and Cletus Bartholemew.

New York City[]

New York City was the original location for the competition in 2011, but it was replaced by Orlando in 2016.

Studio of the Year Winners[]

Year	Studio	Director(s)
2011	Joanne Chapman School of Dance	Joanne Chapman
2012	Center Stage Performing Arts Studio	Kim Delgrosso and Alex Murillo
2014	Elite Danceworx	Dawn Rappitt
2015	Joanne Chapman School of Dance	Joanne Chapman

Male Best Dancer Winners[]

Year	Senior	Teen	Junior	Mini
2011	Daniel Gaymon (Columbia City Jazz)	Ricky Ubeda (Stars Dance Studio)	Jonathan Wade (Dance Unlimited)	Travis Atwood (Talent Factory)
2012	Ricky Ubeda (Stars Dance Studio)	Kyle Patrick Clark (Elite Danceworx)	D'Angelo Castro (Dance Town)	Jamaii Melvin (Dance Empire of Miami)
2013	Zelig Williams (Southern Strutt)	Zenon Zubyk (Elite Danceworx)	Julian Lombardi (JCSOD)	Joey Britt (Southern Strutt)
2014	Keanu Uchida (Leeming Danceworx)	Julian Elia (Elite Danceworx)	Findlay McConnell (Elite Danceworx)	Brady Farrar (Stars Dance Studio)
2015	Kyle Patrick Clarke (Elite Danceworx)	Logan Hernandez (Stars Dance Studio)	Murphy Lee (Performing Dance Arts)	Tristan Ianiero (Art & Soul Dance Company)

Female Best Dancer winners[]

Year	Senior	Teen	Junior	Mini
2011	Bianca Melchior (Elite Danceworx)	Sarah Pippin (CC & Co. Dance Complex)	Jayci Kalb (The Dance Centre)	Leara Stanley (CC & Co. Dance Complex)
2012	Jenna Johnson (Center Stage Performing Arts Studio)	Jazzmin James (Elite Danceworx)	Payton Johnson (Jean Leigh Academy of Dance)	Talia Seitel (Murrieta Dance Project)
2013	Miriam Gittens (The Dance Studio of Fresno)	Christina Ricucci (Murrieta Dance Project)	Kalani Hilliker (Club Dance Studio)	Tate McRae (Drewitz Dance Productions)
2014	Brianne Sellars (Dancemakers of Atlanta)	Jayci Kalb (The Dance Centre)	Sophia Lucia (RT Dance Academy)	Kayla Mak (Westchester Dance Academy)
2015	Jazzmin James (Elite Danceworx)	Payton Johnson (Jean Leigh Academy of Dance)	Tate McRae (YYC Dance Project)	Jezzaeyah Slack (Joanne Chapman School of Dance)

Las Vegas[]

Las Vegas was introduced as a location in 2014. It is widely considered to be the toughest place to compete as the most prestigious dance companies choose to attend the Las Vegas competition instead of the Orlando or New York City location.

Studio of the Year winners[]

Year	Studio	Director(s)
2014	Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Centre	Camille Billelo
2015	The Dance Studio of Fresno	Sue Sampson-Dalena
2016	Larkin Dance Studio	Molly Larkin and Michele Larkin
2017	Club Dance Studio	Kelli Wilkins
2018	Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Centre	Camille Billelo Gross
2019	Center Stage Performing Arts Studio	Alex Murillo, Robin Murillo and Kim Delgrosso
2021	The Rock Center for Dance	Quinn Callahan
	Club Dance Studio	Kelli Wilkins
	Larkin Dance Studio	Molly Larkin-Symanietz and Michele Larkin-Wagner
	Danceology	Nicole Lucia
	Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Centre	Camille Billelo Gross

Male Best Dancer winners[]

Year	Senior	Teen	Junior	Mini
2014	Eric Scholoesser (Michelle Latimer Dance Academy)	Lex Ishimoto (West Coast School of the Arts)	Carter Williams (Center Stage Performing Arts Studio)	Joziah German (Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Centre)
2015	Michael Hall (Columbia City Jazz)	Graham Feeny (Company C Dance Club)	Ryan Maw (Danceology)	Gavin Morales (The Rage)
2016	Lex Ishimoto (West Coast School of the Arts)	Sage Rosen (The company)	Holden Maples (Just for Kicks)	Artyon Celestine (Murrieta Dance Project)
2017	Timmy Blankenship (Artistic Fusion Dance Academy)	Ryan Maw (Danceology)	Tristan Ianiero (Art & Soul Dance Company)	JT Church (Club Dance Studio)
2018	Christian Smith (The Rock Center for Dance)	Joziah German (Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Centre)	Jonathan Paula (Canadian Dance Unit)	Hudson Pletcher (Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Academy)
2019	Findlay McConnell (Elite Danceworx)	Holden Maples (Westlake Dance Center)	Stefano Bonomo (Elite Danceworx)	Aedyn Bekker (Murrieta Dance Project)
2021	Alex Shulman (Danceology)	Caleb Abea (Larkin Dance Studio)	Cooper Macalalad (The Base Center for Dance)	Jacob Barrow (Danceology)

Female Best Dancer winners[]

Year	Senior	Teen	Junior	Mini
2014	Alyssa Allen (Westside Dance Project)	Simrin Player (Club Dance Studio)	Emma Sutherland (Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Center)	Brynn Rumfallo (Club Dance Studio)
2015	Ashley Green (Columbia City Jazz)	Lucy Vallely (Elevation Studios)	Jaycee Wilkins (Club Dance Studio)	Avery Gay (Master Ballet Academy)
2016	Taylor Sieve (Larkin Dance Studio)	Emma Sutherland (Dance Industry Performing Arts Center)	Emma York (Danceology)	Kiarra Waidelich (The Rock Center for Dance)
2017	Simrin Player (Club Dance Studio)	Megan Goldstein (Westside Dance Project)	Avery Gay (Master Ballet Academy)	Brightyn Brems (Center Stage Performing Arts Studio)
2018	Lucy Vallely (Westside Dance Project)	Tate McRae (YYC Dance Project)	Kiarra Waidelich (The Rock Center for Dance)	Elliana Walmsley (Michelle Latimer Dance Academy)
2019	Ellie Wagner (Larkin Dance Studio)	Bostyn Brown (Club Dance Studio)	Addison Leitch (Westside Dance Project)	Crystal Huang (The Rock Center for Dance)
2021	Ella Horan (Westside Dance Project)	Savannah Kristich (The Rock Center for Dance)	Crystal Huang (The Rock Center for Dance)	Kelsie Jacobson (Larkin Dance Studio)

Orlando[]

In 2016 Orlando replaced New York City as the second competition location.

Studio of the Year Winners[]

Year	Studio	Director
2016	Dance Town	Manny Castro and Lory Castro
2017	Vlad's Dance Company	Vlad Novitski
2018	Performing Dance Arts	Ashley Daychak
2019	Vlad's Dance Company	Vlad Novitski

Male Best Dancer Winners[]

Year	Senior	Teen	Junior	Mini
2016	Jonathan Wade (Dance Unlimited)	D'Angelo Castro (Dance Town)	Parker Garrison (Stars Dance Studio)	Jonathan Paula (The Dance Zone)
2017	Wyeth Walker (Denise Wall Dance Energy)	Findlay McConnell (Elite Danceworx)	Brady Farrar (Stars Dance Studio)	Stefano Bonomo (Elite Danceworx)
2018	Michael Novitski (Vlad's Dance Company)	Joey Gertin (Elite Danceworx)	Jackson Foley (Performing Dance Arts)	Anthony LaGrega (companyONE)
2019	D'Angelo Castro (Dance Town)	Murphy Lee (Performing Dance Arts)	Timothy Zvifel (Vlad's Dance Company)	Ian Stegeman (Woodbury Dance Center)
2021	Jaxon Willard (Center Stage Performing Arts Studio)	Brady Farrar (Stars Dance Studio)	Ian Stegeman (Woodbury Dance Center)	Michael Cash Savio (Stars Dance Studio)

Female Best Dancer Winners[]

Year	Senior	Teen	Junior	Mini
2016	Jayci Kalb (The Dance Centre)	Morgan Higgins (Denise Wall Dance Energy)	Bostyn Brown (Club Dance Studio)	Diana Pombo (Stars Dance Studio)
2017	Payton Johnson (Jean Leigh Academy of Dance)	Quinn Starner (Stars Dance Studio)	Bella Klassen (YYC Dance Project)	Hailey Bills (Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Centre)
2018	Morgan Higgins (Denise Wall Dance Energy)	Kelis Robinson (Elite Danceworx)	Ava Wagner (Larkin Dance Studio)	Cameron Voorhees (Evolve Dance Complex)
2019	Vivian Ruiz (Stars Dance Studio)	Ruby Castro (Dance Town)	Keagan Capps (The Pointe Performing Arts Center)	Gracyn French (Project 21)
2021	Kayla Mak (Westchester Dance Academy)	Dyllan Blackburn (Project 21)	Cameron Voorhees (Evolve Dance Complex)	Kya Massimino (Stars Dance Studio)

LIVE[]

The Dance Awards LIVE was held online in 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Male Best Dancer Winners[]

Year	Senior	Teen	Junior	Mini
2020	Joziah German (Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Centre)	Easton Magliarditi (The Rock Center for Dance)	Nicholas Bustos (Stars Dance Studio)	Keenan Mentzos (PULSE Dance Centre)

Female Best Dancer Winners[]

Year	Senior	Teen	Junior	Mini
2020	Kelis Robinson (Elite Danceworx)	Kiarra Waidelich (The Rock Center for Dance)	Ali Ogle (Larkin Dance Studio)	Savannah Manzel (Larkin Dance Studio)

Repeat Winners[]

Two Time Winners[]

Avery Gay: Mini 2015, Junior 2017

Bostyn Brown: Junior 2016, Teen 2019

Cameron Voorhees: Mini 2018, Junior 2021

Crystal Huang: Mini 2019, Junior 2021

Emma Sutherland: Junior 2014, Teen 2016

Holden Maples: Junior 2016, Teen 2019

Ian Stegeman: Mini 2019, Junior 2021

Jazzmin James: Teen 2012, Senior 2015

Jonathan Paula: Mini 2016, Junior 2018

Jonathan Wade: Junior 2011, Senior 2016

Kayla Mak: Mini 2014, Senior 2021

Kelis Robinson: Teen 2018, Senior 2020

Kyle Patrick Clarke: Teen 2012, Senior 2015

Lex Ishimoto: Teen 2014, Senior 2016

Lucy Vallely: Teen 2015, Senior 2018

Morgan Higgins: Teen 2016, Senior 2018

Murphy Lee: Junior 2015, Teen 2019

Ricky Ubeda: Teen 2011, Senior 2012

Ryan Maw: Junior 2015, Teen 2017

Simrin Player: Teen 2014, Senior 2017

Stefania Bonomo: Mini 2017, Junior 2019

Tristan Ianero: Mini 2015, Junior 2017

Three Time Winners[]

Brady Farrar: Mini 2014, Junior 2017, Teen 2021

D’Angelo Castro: Junior 2012, Teen 2016, Senior 2019

Findlay McConnell: Junior 2014, Teen 2017, Senior 2019

Jayci Kalb: Junior 2011, Teen 2014, Senior 2016

Joziah German: Mini 2014, Teen 2018, Senior 2020

Kiarra Waidelich: Mini 2016, Junior 2018, Teen 2020

Payton Johnson: Junior 2012, Teen 2015, Senior 2017

Tate McRae: Mini 2013, Junior 2015, Teen 2018

References[]