This year’s Star Award for Best Jazz Performance was presented by “So You Think You Can Dance” contestant Ryan Ramirez, who also choreographed the ceremony’s opening number.  Miss Ryan did a wonderful job welcoming the sassy, sexy, and fierce winners to the stage.  Of the numerous routines in the running, “Hanging On,” by Dance Precisions came out on top.  Today I had the honor of interviewing the owner and director of Dance Precisions, Edith Montoya, about this award winning performance.

The amount of work that goes in to routines such as this is truly amazing.  Miss Edith calculates that her performers dedicated approximately 45 minutes each week to this routine, which added up to 30 hours of practice time.  On the subject of being nominated for this award in the first place, Edith stated that it was, “exciting — being at the Elite level of performers, chosen out of thousands of dances, and then finally narrowed down is a great feeling.”  Furthermore, winning is a huge compliment.  Edith noted the thrill of being noticed or recognized as “humbling and something that spurs us on to do more.”

A great deal of time and creative thought goes in to molding routines such as “Hanging On,” into the outstanding performances they truly are.  Ms. Montoya also wanted to make sure that this routine’s choreographer, Karame Adesko, was mentioned because, “she has really come into her own.”  And finally, the dancers and parents who made this work of art come to life.  Being a part of this team took trust and hard work, most of all.

Thank you, Edith – Best of luck to your dancers and we can’t wait to see all that you have in store for us next season!

 

Watch the Award Winning Performance!

 

Watch an interview with Edith Montoya “Inside the Dance Studio”