Local Dancer Named Winner At National Competition
Leah Brighter, who lives in the Hempfield area, has been taking lessons at Pulse Dance Studio in Lititz since she was 6 years old, and during that time, she has been on the studio's competitive team. However, when she attended the Dancers Inc. national competition in Ocean City, Md., in early July, it was the first time she had competed for an individual crown, and she was not expecting a first-place finish.
"All my hard work paid off," said Brighter, who was crowned Miss Teen Dancers Inc. The 15-year-old Lancaster Catholic High School student competed against nine others in the 13 to 15 age category. "It was incredible," said Brighter, who won for her jazz solo routine. "I was not expecting to win (because) others (in the contest) were more experienced in this area."
Brighter was not judged on a single performance alone. According to Jennifer Olsen, owner of Pulse, Brighter was evaluated by Dancers Inc. staff throughout the competition. "They watched her all week," said Olsen, who noted that staff members were looking to see how Brighter interacted with her teammates, teachers, and parents. "(Dancers Inc.) will take her on the road to represent their company, so they are looking for the whole package." Brighter reported that staff members spoke with her during rehearsals and that she attended a luncheon with other contestants where she was asked to talk about herself and what makes her unique.
Now, Brighter is looking forward to traveling with Dancers Inc. and representing its company. "Most weekends, I will be gone with them meeting choreographers, dancers, judges, assisting with dance classes," she said. Olsen reported that Brighter will travel to locations up and down the East Coast from New York to North Carolina and that she will be one of four winners to visit either Los Angeles or Las Vegas in February 2023 while continuing to train and compete with Pulse.
In Ocean City, Brighter performed in group numbers, solos, a duo, and a trio. Olsen said about 25 students and their families went to the event, where dancers competed in jazz, lyrical, contemporary, musical theater, and tap numbers. Brighter also takes ballet and hip-hop at the studio, and she is looking forward to beginning aerial arts lessons, including hoops and silks, which will start with Pulse's fall classes. Olsen has secured two aerial arts teachers, one of whom works with Cirque du Soleil. "For dancers to be able to add (aerial arts) to their resume is awesome," noted Olsen.
"All of our competitive teams did well," said Olsen. "We won a choreography award and we got top 10 finishes." Olsen was also impressed with the support the other students gave Brighter the night she won her crown. "(The students) were so important to the week," she said. "Leah had a very special moment, but everyone did well."
More information about Pulse offerings may be found at http://www.pulsedancestudio.com.
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