Whidbey Island dance team goes over the rainbow | NOTABLE

The Island Dance Competition Team had a banner day at the regional Rainbow Connection Competition on Jan. 22. The first competition dance event of the season was held at the Highline Performing Arts Center in Burien. Island dancers brought home six trophies for their four entries and qualified for Rainbow Nationals.

Going first is never easy, but junior-division performer Grace Colby took the stage at 8 a.m. that Saturday and managed to win the Gold trophy with her hip hop solo titled “The Choice is Yours.”

Next up was Melissa Smith, with her lyrical solo “Time of my Life” in the teen division. The full-tuition scholarship recipient for the competition earned a High Gold trophy for her performance and placed fifth as a “Rising Starz” overall High Point Champion for all soloists in her division in any dance style.

Sylvia Hurlburt and Smith also performed a rousing teen musical dance theater duo titled “I Can’t Do It Alone” from the play “Chicago,” and received a High Gold trophy award.

One of the most unique aspects of the Rainbow Connection Competition is that it allows for the least experienced dancers — “Starz of Tomorrow” — to compete in their own category, as did the Island Dance junior “Build Me Up” dancers Kendall Marshall, Alexa Varga and Colby. The result was not only a Gold trophy, but also a Best Overall trophy.

All of the Island Dance Rainbow Connection entrants have qualified to attend Rainbow Nationals in Wisconsin at the end of June. The team is presently organizing its local fundraising show “Other Moves” for March 25 and 26, proceeds from which will support the trip to nationals.

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