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Young dancers in Utah have been stacking up awards this summer — and cash.
On July 5, Alexia Meyer, 17, of Orem, won the title of "Senior Outstanding Dancer" at the New York City Dance Alliance competition, which drew hundreds of dancers from around the country.
"It was amazing," Alexia said of the 10 days of the competition, which includes classes in ballet and jazz. "I've gone for this title for seven years. I really appreciate it now and what I learned competing."
Previously, Alexia has placed as a runner-up in the mini, junior and teen categories.
Now as a senior who attends Orem's Mountain View High School, she took the prize. In addition to $1,000 in award money, she gets to tour for the competition year with NYCDA, which will make a stop in Salt Lake City on Nov. 2-3.
After a separate audition at NYCDA, Alexia also was awarded $98,000 in scholarships. "I was really scared" at the scholarship audition, she said. After all, "it had more effect on my future."
Two universities offered her scholarships: $48,000 from Marymount Manhattan and $40,000 from Point Park. She'll have to choose which university she wants to attend. She also received $10,000 from the New York City Dance Alliance Foundation that she can use at the college of her choice.
Alexia danced a piece called "Til-Enda," choreographed by Travis Wall. "It has a lot of floor work and intricate actions and musicality," she said. "You can see the music flow through the dance. Sharp, slow movements help the style look unique and set it aside from the other dancers."
Alexia is a member of The Dance Club in Orem. So is Rachel Parkinson, 12, of Draper, who along with Alexia, has been named by Dance Spirit and Dance Teacher magazines as one of "10 rising stars."
On June 30, Rachel won the "National Dancer of the Year" title in the 7-to-12 age division at the Hollywood Vibe Nationals in Ohio. Only one other winner was chosen in the teen/senior division.
Rachel said she went to the competition with her mother. She said she had a lot of fun, although missed having the support of other dancers from her studio.
The junior room was crowded and the girls were ruthless, according to Jill Parkinson, Rachel's mom. "There was a lot of jockeying for floor space and attempts to get noticed by the choreographers, Parkinson said. "Even if Rachel had a good spot in the class, she was quickly pushed aside or someone would stand right in front of her."
There were many tears of frustration, too. "I went alone," the preteen said, "and it was kind of hard. But after I did my solo, everybody was very respectful. Complete strangers came up to me and said, 'Your solo was unbelievable,' 'You inspire me,' " Rachel recalls. "I made a lot of new friends."
Rachel won $800 and gets to travel to conventions to assist choreographers, with much of the tab being paid for. That's good, because entering these competitions comes with fees attached. Fees for entering. Fees for costumes, required gala events and workshops.
But Rachel loves to travel to competitions. "Me and my partner Ali went to Las Vegas this summer," she said. Her partner, whom she sometimes dances duos with, is 12-year-old Alexandra Deucher. Ali took the junior title at The Event dance competition in Las Vegas on June 20.
Another winner at The Event was Rachel Perry, an 18-year-old from Pleasant Grove, a recent Timpanogos High School graduate. She won "The Dancer" title in the senior division. Besides cash, each girl won a trophy.