Dancers from Euphoria Dance Center in Great Bend traveled to Tulsa, Okla. in June to compete in the Talent on Parade National Dance Competition where they performed a slate of solos, two duos, and a small group dance featuring several high placers from the regional competition held in Wichita in May.
The first two days of the five day competition, the focus was on the youngest dancers.  Mersadie Spray, Daehlyn Ellis, and JoDe McCallie handled the competition like pros.  Ellis and Spray placed 8th Overall in the 8 and younger Intermediate Division for their jazz duo, “Glamorous Life.”  Spray also placed 8th overall for photogenic. Ellis placed 10th Overall for her 8 and younger Intermediate Division open solo, “Summertime Sadness.” McCallie, competing in the 9-10 year old Novice Division, took an Elite trophy home for her jazz solo, “Who Says.”
Then, the competition moved into solos for the 11-12 year olds, with Kaitlyn Pohlman competing in the Intermediate Division, and Brooke Gallentine competing as a Novice.  Pohlman took an Elite trophy for her lyrical solo, “Only Hope,” and a Diamond trophy and 10th Overall TOP Entertainer Title for her music theater solo “Show off.”  
The third day into the competition, 13 and older took the stage. Karlie Stanley, competing in the Intermediate Division, won Elite status for both her lyrical solo, “Slow Me Down,” and her jazz solo, “Supa Dope.”  
Blake Stanley and Jewelia Depperschmidt, performing in the Intermediate Division, received Diamond, Judges Choice Award “Lovely Lifts”, and 1st Overall for “Every Heart”.
Several EDC dancers in the 15 and older division performed solos. In Competitive Division, Blake Stanley won Diamond with both his lyrical solo, “The Face,” and his contemporary solo, “Hide and Seek,” which also brought him the 9th Overall TOP Entertainer title.
Kaeli Amerine, competing in the Intermediate Division, won Top for her open solo, “Americano,” Top and Judges Choice Award “Sparkle” for her jazz solo “Whine Up,” and Elite for her contemporary solo, “The Garden.”
Depperschmidt, also competing in the Intermediate Division, won Elite for her lyrical solo, “Hiding Underwater,” and Diamond and 9th Overall for her music theater solo, “Diamonds.”  
In the Novice division, first timers Emma Ayre and Emily Barrington made a  dazzling showing with Ayre receiving TOP and 10th Overall for her jazz solo, “Instigator,” and Top and Judge’s Choice Award “Sassy Costume” for her hip hop solo, “Sail.”  Barrington won Elite and 5th Overall for her open solo, “Iron.”
The final day of competition was filled with large and small group numbers of dancers ages 15 and older.  Amerine, Ayre, Barrington, and Blake Stanley won Elite and 5th Overall for their jazz group dance, “Good Luck.”
Each day of the competition, Talent on Parade offered dance workshops taught by industry professionals.  The level of competition was significantly higher than other competitions the team took part in earlier in the year, which provided an exciting experience for all who attended.
“The team has really grown a lot this past year,” Feil said.  “We’re looking forward to building on that growth in the fall with more focus on ballet technique.”
Tryouts for the competition team will begin in August.