Video Contest 2019
AIMED DANCER OF THE YEAR
1st Place Winners
receiving a $1000.00 educational scholarship
BEYOND
(ages 19-25)
Marissa Krustchinsky is a 20 year old from Houston, TX. She has been dancing for 18 years and has trained in various genres. Those genres are: jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, contemporary, ballet, modern, and tap. She trained and attended Dance Productions and TNT Dance Xplosion. She further her dance education at Dobie High School where she was a part of the drill team called "The Lariattes" and was appointed colonel her senior year. Also during her senior year, she had the opportunity to dance in the Super Bowl with Lady Gaga, alongside her teammates. She is currently attending Lamar University where she is a sophomore and is getting her degree in Theatre and Dance, as well as a minor in Business. Marissa currently works for at Studio B Dance Center. She teaches all ages from 2yrs-18yrs. When she graduates, she hopes to open up her own studio or become a drill team instructor where she can inspire and teach the next generation. She hopes her dancers find the love of dance just like she has.
SENIOR
(ages 14-18)
Grayson Criswell started dancing at the age of 3 at Ginger Gondron Dance Arts, LLC. I took a year off in fourth grade to study the violin to find myself pulled back to the studio the following year. The year off made me realize how much I love and live for dance. My passion for ballet blossomed in fifth grade and continues to grow every day. I auditioned for Ms. Ginger's performing company and continued until this year only because it isn't going on. However, I am still working with her and competing at conventions a long with a full load of dance classes. I have been awarded multiple scholarships from the Streetz and Nuvo workshops. In 2017 and 2018 I was accepted to the Joffrey Texas summer intensives and will be attending the Joffrey Winter intensive this December. I received a scholarship and invitation to attend the Cosmopolitan Ballet Theater summer intensive in 2018. My dream and goal is to dance for a professional ballet company and go to school. I want to be able to pass on my experience and love to inspire new young dancers as Ms. Ginger has inspired me.
JUNIOR
(ages 9-13)
My name is Cathleen Johnsen, and I am 13 years old. I am in the 8th grade at All Saints Episcopal School. I am a current member of the National Junior Honor Society. I have been dancing at Bonnie Cokinos School of Dance for 11 years and been a Beaumont Ballet Theatre company dancer for 3 years. In that time I have attended multiple conventions, such as Regional Dance America(RDA) at the regional and national level. I competed in Dance Masters of America(DMA). I have also danced numerous solos in my company’s production of Cinderella, such as Jezebel the Cat, Stepsister, and Lady of the Court. Dance is something that I constantly do and love to do it. Dance means everything to me. I want to win this contest because the scholarship would help tremendously with my dance education and future.
2nd Place Winners
receiving a scholarship to the
Lamar University Summer Dance Intensive 2019
Sarah Vickery, originally from Arlington, TX, earned an associates degree in art from Tarrant County College and is currently pursuing a degree in dance from Lamar University’s Department of Theatre & Dance. She has had the privilege of performing with the Tarrant County College Ensemble, Fusion Dance Company, Vanilla Ice, and Lamar University. Presenting works in several venues throughout Texas, Sarah plans to continue her studies with a master degree in choreography.
Photo by Jennifer Hart Salter
My name is Gabrielle Potapenko, I am 17 years old. Dancing has always been a part of my life as long as I can remember. I begin competing at the age of four at a studio in Louisiana. We moved to Texas over six years ago and I continue to train locally and throughout the United States. I am starting my second year as an assistant/ company member for Dance League owned and operated by Desiree Robbins. I am always looking to explain my knowledge of dance. I want dance to always be with me and hope to continue sharing my love of dance with others.
My name is Kaitlyn Hebert and I am from Bridge City, Texas. I dance here as well at a studio named Amy’s Elite Dance Force. I am 13 years old and dance has been something that has stuck with me since. I love dancing because it allows me to express my feelings and have fun at the same time. Dance has allowed me to create a bunch of new friendships with people that I never knew. It also created many memories for me to cherish and will continue to do so. I am on a company team at my studio and am very blessed to be apart of such an amazing team. I love my team because we all work hard to achieve what we want. We are all so close and share the same passion for dance. I’m thankful for everyone who has helped me to become the dancer I am today, and I hope to grow as one.
3rd Place Winners
receiving a dance wear/ supplies gift card
Rachel Curtis is a senior at Lamar University and a double major in Theatre & Dance and Corporate Communications from Houston, Texas. She has performed at Bailando Dance Festival in 2016, Tainan University of Technology in 2017, and Tarrant County College District Concert in 2018, in addition to performing in Dance Unleashed and Fall and Recovery at Lamar University for the past 5 semesters. After graduating from Lamar University, she intends to pursue a Master’s degree in Dance at Texas Woman’s University.
My name is Taylor Stewart and I am from Lumberton Texas. I have been dancing for about 12 years. I have been dancing at Ginger Gondron Dance arts since the age of three and I am apart of Waves movement project starting this year. Dance has always been a huge part of my life and has taught me so much not only about the art but also about myself. I have learned what it takes to work hard to achieve a goal and the joy of when the time and effort finally pays off. Through the good times and bad I have always been able to see movement as an escape from normal life. The art and athleticism is a wonderful thing to be apart of and makes me proud to be a dancer.
My name is Brooke Bishop. I am 13 years old and am in 8th grade. I live in Houston, TX. I began dancing when I was 2 years old. I like all types of dance but I have been concentrating on ballet and pointe work. I am currently a dancer with the Kingwood Youth Ballet and am a Lionette Dance Team captain at my Middle School. This contemporary piece is the solo I am finishing to use to compete in drill team 2019 competition season. The choreography is by Cloe Leppard.
