Local dancer studio wins high awards at contest

CIRCLE OF LIFE- Students from Pam Rossi's Dance Ten studio take home top honors for their "Lion King" routine.

Dancers from Pam Rossi's Dance Ten in Moorpark recently competed at the Rainbow Connection National Finals held in Las Vegas.

The dancers, under the direction of Val Manchin and Kerrie Burg, qualified seven numbers to compete in the final Gold Cup Challenge. "Gabriel," choreographed by Manchin, took first for the Gold Cup Challenge for 9to12yearolds Small Group and was also awarded "Best Technique" for a junior group.

"Lion King," also choreographed by Manchin, was awarded top honors in the 9-to-12 Production category. This eightminute, miniBroadway production number used 45 dancers ranging in age from 8 to 20 years old and multilevel staging.

Rachelle Meiners, costume designer, created 45 costumes consisting of lions, zebras, hyenas, birds and baboons to turn the dancers into jungle animals, all with either masks or large heads.

Also winning a Gold Challenge award was "Goody Goody," third place 8-and-under Large Group, choreographed by Burg.

"Hide and Seek" won second place 9-to-12 Large Group. "Hide" took fourth place 13-to-15 Small Group and "Inch by Inch" won second place 16-and-over Small Group, all choreographed by Shannon Novak.

The uniquely costumed tap number, "Playtime," choreographed and staged by Rod Howell, brought home the second place 13-to-15 Large Group award.