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Cara Beamer of Botetourt was one of the dancers from the Ardell Stone School of Dancing that recently participated in two of the most challenging and prestigious Regional Dance Conventions and Competitions. During the 2-day workshop, the studnets had the opportunity to take classes from dance professionals based in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and New Yrok. The Ardell Stone students studied tap, ballet, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary and lyrical. The dancers also took part in an audition and met other dancers from New York, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. The students won awards at each of the competitions.

At the Tremaine Dance Competition in Washington D.C. the Advanced Senior Group won 2nd place in the senior lyrical category and 2nd place in the jazz category. The senior group won 1st place in musical theatre and 3rd place in lyrical. Both groups competed together in the senior production category. They won 2d place for their Jazz production "On Broadway." Chandler Dawes also received a year-long scholarship award.

In February, the groups also competed at the West Coast Dance Explosion in Reston, Virginia. The advanced senior group won 1st place in lyrical and jazz. The senior group won 1st place in musical theatre and 2nd place in lyrical. Both groups together won 1st place and the Overall High Score in the Senior Production category. Chandler Dawes was selected for a senior year-long scholarship.

The judges’ scores for each dance were based on level of difficulty, technique, showmanship, choreography and costuming. Based on their scores, all of the Ardell Stone students qualified for the national competitions to be held this summer.

The advanced senior group members are Lauren Altieri, Devin Chavira, Chandler Dawes, Ashlyn Gibson, Lauren Harris, April Martin, Lisa Myers, Mackenzie Price, Zoe Rahsman, Mary Anna Rose, Hayley Steele, Taylor Walton and Rachael Wright.

The senior group includes Cara Beamer, Laura Blades, Sara Clark, Kendall Faris, McKenna Hayes, Sarah Iler, Kate Kronau, Mattie LaPrade, Robyn Lewis, Connie Milliron, Emily Robinson, and Cali Woolwine.