# The Dance Awards

The Dance Awards is a national dance competition held annually in Las Vegas and Orlando. Dancers between the ages of five and nineteen are awarded to recognize excellence in dance. TDA is widely regarded as a prestigious award presented for dance in the US, and is considered to be one of the toughest competitions internationally for young pre-professional dancers.

## Overview

The Dance Awards (TDA) is a national dance competition that collaborates with JUMP, Nuvo, and 24 Seven Dance, produced by Break the Floor. The Dance Awards was first held in 2011 in New York City, where it continued to be held annually in 2012 and 2013. In 2014, the competition expanded to two locations, Las Vegas and New York City. It continued to be held this way for another year in 2015. However, in 2016 and 2017, the second location was changed to Orlando instead of New York City.
The competition is usually held in the first week of July.

## Famous competitors

There have been several competitors that have competed or appeared on several other talent or dancing shows such as America's Got Talent, World of Dance, Dance Moms, Dancing with the Stars, and So You Think You Can Dance. Those competitors include Jenna Johnson, Kalani Hilliker, Briar Nolet, Tate McRae, Brynn Rumfallo, JoJo Siwa, Eva Igo, Maddie Ziegler, Elliana Walmsley, and Mackenzie Ziegler.

## New York City

New York City was the original location for the competition in 2011, but it was replaced by Orlando in 2016.

### Studio of the Year Winners

| Year | Studio | Director(s) |
| 2011 | Joanne Chapman School of Dance | Joanne Chapman |
| 2012 | Center Stage Performing Arts Studio | Kim Delgrosso and Alex Murillo |
| 2013 | JCSOD | Frank Giorgio |
| 2014 | Elite Danceworx | Dawn Rappitt |
| 2015 | Joanne Chapman School of Dance | Joanne Chapman |

### Male Best Dancer Winners

| Year | Senior | Teen | Junior | Mini |
| 2011 | Daniel Gaymon (Columbia City Jazz) | Ricky Ubeda (Stars Dance Studio) | Jonathan Wade (Dance Unlimited) | Travis Atwood (Talent Factory) |
| 2012 | Ricky Ubeda (Stars Dance Studio) | Kyle Patrick Clark (Elite Danceworx) | D'Angelo Castro (Dance Town) | Jamaii Melvin (Dance Empire of Miami) |
| 2013 | Zelig Williams (Southern Strutt) | Zenon Zubyk (Elite Danceworx) | Julian Lombardi (JCSOD) | Joey Britt (Southern Strutt) |
| 2014 | Keanu Uchida (Leeming Danceworx) | Julian Elia (Elite Danceworx) | Findlay McConnell (Elite Danceworx) | Brady Farrar (Stars Dance Studio) |
| 2015 | Kyle Patrick Clarke (Elite Danceworx) | Logan Hernandez (Stars Dance Studio) | Murphy Lee (Performing Dance Arts) | Tristan Ianiero (Art & Soul Dance Company) |

### Female Best Dancer winners

| Year | Senior | Teen | Junior | Mini |
| 2011 | Bianca Melchior (Elite Danceworx) | Sarah Pippin (CC & Co. Dance Complex) | Jayci Kalb (The Dance Centre) | Leara Stanley (CC & Co. Dance Complex) |
| 2012 | Jenna Johnson (Center Stage Performing Arts Studio) | Jazzmin James (Elite Danceworx) | Payton Johnson (Jean Leigh Academy of Dance) | Talia Seitel (Murrieta Dance Project) |
| 2013 | Miriam Gittens (The Dance Studio of Fresno) | Christina Ricucci (Murrieta Dance Project) | Kalani Hilliker (Club Dance Studio) | Tate McRae (Drewitz Dance Productions) |
| 2014 | Brianne Sellars (Dancemakers of Atlanta) | Jayci Kalb (The Dance Centre) | Sophia Lucia (RT Dance Academy) | Kayla Mak (Westchester Dance Academy) |
| 2015 | Jazzmin James (Elite Danceworx) | Payton Johnson (Jean Leigh Academy of Dance) | Tate McRae (YYC Dance Project) | Jezzaeyah Slack (Joanne Chapman School of Dance) |

## Las Vegas

Las Vegas was introduced as a location in 2014. It is widely considered to be the toughest place to compete as the most prestigious dance companies choose to attend the Las Vegas competition instead of the Orlando or New York City locations.

### Studio of the Year winners

| Year | Studio | Director(s) |
| 2014 | Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Centre | Camille Billelo Gross |
| 2015 | The Dance Studio of Fresno | Sue Sampson-Dalena |
| 2016 | Larkin Dance Studio | Molly Larkin and Michele Larkin |
| 2017 | Club Dance Studio | Kelli Wilkins |
| 2018 | Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Centre | Camille Billelo Gross |
| 2019 | Center Stage Performing Arts Studio | Alex Murillo, Robin Murillo and Kim Delgrosso |
| 2021 | The Rock Center for Dance | Quinn Callahan |
| 2021 | Club Dance Studio | Kelli Wilkins |
| 2021 | Larkin Dance Studio | Molly Larkin-Symanietz and Michele Larkin-Wagner |
| 2021 | Danceology | Nicole Lucia |
| 2021 | Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Centre | Camille Billelo Gross |
| 2022 | Danceology | Nicole Lucia |
| 2023 | Larkin Dance Studio | Molly Larkin-Symanietz and Michele Larkin-Wagner |
| 2024 | Expressenz Dance Center | Karla Geier |

### Male Best Dancer winners (LAS VEGAS)

| Year | Senior | Teen | Junior | Mini |
| 2014 | Eric Scholoesser (Michelle Latimer Dance Academy) | Lex Ishimoto (West Coast School of the Arts) | Carter Williams (Center Stage Performing Arts Studio) | Joziah German (Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Centre) |
| 2015 | Michael Hall (Columbia City Jazz) | Graham Feeny (Company C Dance Club) | Ryan Maw (Danceology) | Gavin Morales (The Rage) |
| 2016 | Lex Ishimoto (West Coast School of the Arts) | Sage Rosen (The Company) | Holden Maples (Just for Kicks) | Artyon Celestine (Murrieta Dance Project) |
| 2017 | Timmy Blankenship (Artistic Fusion Dance Academy) | Ryan Maw (Danceology) | Tristan Ianiero (Art & Soul Dance Company) | JT Church (Club Dance Studio) |
| 2018 | Christian Smith (The Rock Center for Dance) | Joziah German (Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Centre) | Jonathan Paula (Canadian Dance Unit) | Hudson Pletcher (Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Academy) |
| 2019 | Findlay McConnell (Elite Danceworx) | Holden Maples (Westlake Dance Center) | Stefania Bonomo (Elite Danceworx) | Aedyn Bekker (Murrieta Dance Project) |
| 2021 | Alex Shulman (Danceology) | Caleb Abea (Larkin Dance Studio) | Cooper Macalalad (The Base Center for Dance) | Jacob Barrow (Danceology) |
| 2022 | Moses Rankine (Elite Danceworx) | Luke Barrett (Dance Attack! - Los Gatos) | Keenan Mentzos (PULSE Dance Centre) | Matthew Conway (Next Step Dance) |
| 2023 | Isaiah Villegas (Dance Connection 2) | Patricio Lopez (Flash Dance Studio) | Kazuma Brailsford (Honolulu Dance Studio) | Tristan Jones (Gotta Dance Academy) |
| 2024 | Hudson Pletcher (Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Center) | Zachary Roy (Dance Town) | Matthew Conway (Next Step Dance) | Chase Lang (Larkin Dance Studio) |

### Female Best Dancer winners

| Year | Senior | Teen | Junior | Mini |
| 2014 | Alyssa Allen (Westside Dance Project) | Simrin Player (Club Dance Studio) | Emma Sutherland (Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Studio) | Brynn Rumfallo (Club Dance Studio) |
| 2015 | Ashley Green (Columbia City Jazz) | Lucy Vallely (Elevation Studios) | Jaycee Wilkins (Club Dance Studio) | Avery Gay (Limitless at Master Ballet) |
| 2016 | Taylor Sieve (Larkin Dance Studio) | Emma Sutherland (Dance Industry Performing Arts Center) | Emma York (Danceology) | Kiarra Waidelich (The Rock Center For Dance) |
| 2017 | Simrin Player (Club Dance Studio) | Megan Goldstein (Westside Dance Project) | Avery Gay (Master Ballet Academy) | Brightyn Brems (Center Stage Performing Arts Studio) |
| 2018 | Lucy Vallely (Westside Dance Project) | Tate McRae (YYC Dance Project) | Kiarra Waidelich (The Rock Center For Dance) | Elliana Walmsley (Michelle Latimer Dance Academy) |
| 2019 | Ellie Wagner (Larkin Dance Studio) | Bostyn Brown (Club Dance Studio) | Addison Leitch (WESTSIDE Dance Project) | Crystal Huang (The Rock Center For Dance) |
| 2021 | Ella Horan (WESTSIDE Dance Project) | Savannah Kristich (The Rock Center For Dance) | Crystal Huang (The Rock Center For Dance) | Kelsie Jacobson (Larkin Dance Studio) |
| 2022 | Brianna Keingatti (Columbia Performing Arts Centre) | Avery Hall (Danceology) | Taylor Morrison (Dance Connection 2) | Finley Ashfield (Larkin Dance Studio) |
| 2023 | Carly Thinfen (Nor Cal Performing Arts) | Crystal Huang (The Rock Centre for Dance) | Fiona Wu (Yoko's Dance and Performing Arts) | Malia Scott (Larkin Dance Studio) |
| 2024 | Izzy Howard (Westside Dance Project) | Kylie Kaminsky (Danceology) | Skylar Wong (Woodbury Dance Center) | Belle Marie Arauz (Dance Town) |

## Orlando

In 2016 Orlando replaced New York City as the second competition location.

### Studio of the Year Winners

| Year | Studio | Director |
| 2016 | Dance Town | Manny Castro and Lory Castro |
| 2017 | Vlad's Dance Company | Vlad Novitski |
| 2018 | Performing Dance Arts | Ashley Daychak |
| 2019 | Vlad's Dance Company | Vlad Novitski |

### Male Best Dancer Winners

| Year | Senior | Teen | Junior | Mini |
| 2016 | Jonathan Wade (Dance Unlimited) | D'Angelo Castro (Dance Town) | Parker Garrison (Stars Dance Studio) | Jonathan Paula (The Dance Zone) |
| 2017 | Wyeth Walker (Denise Wall Dance Energy) | Findlay McConnell (Elite Danceworx) | Brady Farrar (Stars Dance Studio) | Stefania Bonomo (Elite Danceworx) |
| 2018 | Michael Novitski (Vlad's Dance Company) | Joey Gertin (Elite Danceworx) | Jackson Foley (Performing Dance Arts) | Anthony LaGrega (companyONE) |
| 2019 | D'Angelo Castro (Dance Town) | Murphy Lee (Performing Dance Arts) | Timothy Zvifel (Vlad's Dance Company) | Ian Stegeman (Woodbury Dance Center) |
| 2021 | Jaxon Willard (Center Stage Performing Arts Studio) | Brady Farrar (Stars Dance Studio) | Ian Stegeman (Woodbury Dance Center) | Michael Cash Savio (Stars Dance Studio) |
| 2022 | Seth Gibson (Studio 413) | Nicholas Moreno (Upstate Carolina Dance Center) | Zachary Roy (Dance Town) | Dylan Custodio (Stars Dance Studio) |
| 2023 | Sam Fine (Stars Dance Studio) | Ian Stegeman (Woodbury Dance Center) | Santiago Sosa (Stars Dance Studio) | Damian Shillis (Canadian Dance Company) |
| 2024 | Jackson Roloff-Hafenbreadl (Stars Dance Studio) | Kylan Wright (Stars Dance Studio) | Neo Del Corral (Stars Dance Studio) | Isaiah Santos (Stars Dance Studio) |

### Female Best Dancer Winners

| Year | Senior | Teen | Junior | Mini |
| 2016 | Jayci Kalb (The Dance Centre) | Morgan Higgins (Denise Wall Dance Energy) | Bostyn Brown (Club Dance Studio) | Diana Pombo (Stars Dance Studio) |
| 2017 | Payton Johnson (Jean Leigh Academy of Dance) | Quinn Starner (Stars Dance Studio) | Bella Klassen (YYC Dance Project) | Hailey Bills (Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Centre) |
| 2018 | Morgan Higgins (Denise Wall Dance Energy) | Kelis Robinson (Elite Danceworx) | Ava Wagner (Larkin Dance Studio) | Cameron Voorhees (Evolve Dance Complex) |
| 2019 | Vivian Ruiz (Stars Dance Studio) | Ruby Castro (Dance Town) | Keagan Capps (The Pointe Performing Arts Center) | Gracyn French (Project 21) |
| 2021 | Kayla Mak (Westchester Dance Academy) | Dyllan Blackburn (Project 21) | Cameron Voorhees (Evolve Dance Complex) | Kya Massimino (Stars Dance Studio) |
| 2022 | Ruby Castro (Dance Town) | Hailey Bills (Center Stage Performing Arts Center) | Kylee Casares (Stars Dance Studio) | Skylar Wong (Woodbury Dance Center) |
| 2023 | Julia Lowe (Elite Danceworx) | Cameron Voorhees (Evolve Dance Complex) | Zoe Flores (Stars Dance Studio) | Ellary Day Szyndlar (Club Dance Studio) |
| 2024 | Sierra Drayton (Elite Danceworx) | Giselle Gandarilla (Stars Dance Studio) | Regan Gerena (Project 21) | Sylvie Win Szyndlar (Club Dance Studio) |

## LIVE

The Dance Awards LIVE was held online in 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

### Male Best Dancer Winners

| Year | Senior | Teen | Junior | Mini |
| 2020 | Joziah German (Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Centre) | Easton Magliarditi (The Rock Center for Dance) | Nicholas Bustos (Stars Dance Studio) | Keenan Mentzos (PULSE Dance Centre) |

### Female Best Dancer Winners

| Year | Senior | Teen | Junior | Mini |
| 2020 | Kelis Robinson (Elite Danceworx) | Kiarra Waidelich (The Rock Center for Dance) | Ali Ogle (Larkin Dance Studio) | Savannah Manzel (Larkin Dance Studio) |

## Repeat Winners
### Two Time Winners

* Ricky Ubeda: Teen 2011, Senior 2012
* Jazzmin James: Teen 2012, Senior 2015
* Kyle Patrick Clarke: Teen 2012, Senior 2015
* Emma Sutherland: Junior 2014, Teen 2016
* Lex Ishimoto: Teen 2014, Senior 2016
* Jonathan Wade: Junior 2011, Senior 2016
* Avery Gay: Mini 2015, Junior 2017
* Tristan Ianiero: Mini 2015, Junior 2017
* Ryan Maw: Junior 2015, Teen 2017
* Simrin Player: Teen 2014, Senior 2017
* Jonathan Paula: Mini 2016, Junior 2018
* Morgan Higgins: Teen 2016, Senior 2018
* Lucy Vallely: Teen 2015, Senior 2018
* Stefano Bonomo: Mini 2017, Junior 2019
* Bostyn Brown: Junior 2016, Teen 2019
* Holden Maples: Junior 2016, Teen 2019
* Murphy Lee: Junior 2015, Teen 2019
* Kelis Robinson: Teen 2018, Senior 2020
* Kayla Mak: Mini 2014, Senior 2021
* Keenan Mentzos: Mini 2020, Junior 2022
* Hailey Bills: Mini 2017, Teen 2022
* Hudson Pletcher: Mini 2018, Senior 2024
* Ruby Castro: Teen 2019, Senior 2022
* Skylar Wong: Mini 2022, Junior 2024
* Matthew Conway: Mini 2022, Junior 2024
* Zachary Roy: Junior 2022, Teen 2024

### Three Time Winners

* Jayci Kalb: Junior 2011, Teen 2014, Senior 2016
* Payton Johnson: Junior 2012, Teen 2015, Senior 2017
* Tate McRae: Mini 2013, Junior 2015, Teen 2018
* Findlay McConnell: Junior 2014, Teen 2017, Senior 2019
* D’Angelo Castro: Junior 2012, Teen 2016, Senior 2019
* Joziah German: Mini 2014, Teen 2018, Senior 2020
* Kiarra Waidelich: Mini 2016, Junior 2018, Teen 2020
* Brady Farrar: Mini 2014, Junior 2017, Teen 2021
* Crystal Huang: Mini 2019, Junior 2021, Teen 2023
* Cameron Voorhees: Mini 2018, Junior 2021, Teen 2023
* Ian Stegeman: Mini 2019, Junior 2021, Teen 2023