The Dance & Drill Coaches Association of Oregon (DDCA), hosted an unique event for dance team dancers over the weekend.
With the Parkrose High School auditorium serving as the venue, dancers came together to share their work in the solo, duo and trio categories.
Quite often, outside of the high school dance team genre, it is commonplace for competitive events for dancers to include the areas of solos, duos, and trios. Especially within the studio and private club networks. It has also become common for dance team competitions to not only host team events, but incorporate the opportunity for individual dancers to compete.
Since 2023, the DDCA has added solo, duo, and trio categories to many competitive events throughout the season. These options not only allow individual dancers to shine, but were also introduced with the intention of encouraging participation from smaller teams that may not always have enough dancers to compete in full team events. While established teams have largely been the ones exploring these categories so far, the opportunity remains open and accessible to any high school team that wishes to participate, as well as options for middle school and club teams as the events allow.
Over the last two seasons, the solo/duo/trio category has sustained popularity among several of the High School dance teams that compete under the DDCA umbrella. This year, the DDCA hosted the DDCA Solo, Duo, Trio Championships as a way to honor the hard work of these dancers with an event of their own.
This event took place on a stage, creating a more intimate setting with simple theatrical lighting. This environment provided a more appropriate atmosphere for performers to share their work, especially when compared to the wide, open basketball gymnasium and its harsh fluorescent lighting. Showcasing full dance teams in a gymnasium is the norm and expected, but the stage format allowed the solo, duo, and trio dancers to present their work more effectively and offered a space that truly supported and highlighted their performance.
Barlow, Gresham, Molalla, Parkrose, Putnam, Scappoose, Sheldon, South Albany, Sprague, Tigard, Tualatin, and West Albany were the High School teams with participating dancers. Joining them were some Middle School groups and Club Teams: Albany Gems, Regeneration, and Identity.
Among the high school groups, the solos were divided into 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. The 12th grade entries were robust enough to separate the soloists into separate 4A, 5A, and 6A divisions, but the 10th and 11th grade had mixed school classifications.
Starting with the 10th grade group, Finely Jensen from Tualatin received first place with a score of 92.00 and Ava Duffy from Tigard received second place, scoring 90.50. Jensen and Duffy were among two of the four dancers that scored in the 90s and received “Superior” ratings.
The only other dancers to score in the 90s were the first and second-place finishers in the 12th-grade 5A division. Avery Smith of Parkrose earned first place with a score of 92.61—the highest score of the day—while Nyah Kinney of West Albany followed closely in second with a 91.00. Reflecting on her successful day, Smith shared, “Competing at DDCA champs is always so magical and memorable. The love shared by each and every dancer is irreplaceable. I’m incredibly thankful to compete alongside the people I love while doing what I love.”
The 11th grade soloist winner was from Scappoose, Mackenzie Maggi, with a score of 72.28. South Albany’s dancer Athena Duffy was not far behind with her score of 71.94, receiving second place.
Scappose also had an impressive outcome in the 12th Grade 4A division, dominating the top three placements. Cierra Arstill-Brown’s first place score of 79.28 barely outscored teammate Alaire Marquis’ 78.72. Third place also went to Scappoose dancer Marie Wooters, scoring an 73.89.
Rounding out the High School soloist category was the 12th grade 6A group. Cali Rutten from Tigard had a comfortable lead over her competition, and also received a “Superior” rating with her score of 88.61. Superior ratings are granted to scores that receive higher than an 85.
The high school duo/trio offerings had a 4A-5A group and a 6A group. Barlow’s duet performed by Hayden Crocker and Kylie Jones received a 78.28 with plenty of wiggle room to receive first place in this 6A group.
The 4A-5A group had a mix of four duets and one trio, and were combined into one large group. Cierra Arstill-Brown and Kenzie Claussen’s duet from Scappoose took first place with a 73.78. Shout-out to Zoe Inukai, Grace Lambert, and Avery Smith, however, for being the only trio of the day from the High School teams, and landing a third place finish in this group of mixed offerings. Inukai from Parkrose reflects, “The best thing about dance isn’t the trophies you get, it’s about the friends and memories you make.”
The DDCA Solo, Duo, and Trio Championships was a joyful celebration of dance, and every participant deserves recognition for the courage it takes to step onto the stage and perform with such beauty and vulnerability. You can find all the results, including the middle and club team results here: all results
The team events return this week at Gresham High School's Mount Hood Winter Rhythm. In the next several weeks, teams compete in the Jazz, Hip Hop, and Pom categories, which we have been seeing often this year, but entering the category mash-up will be Traditional and Show categories. These five categories will set the scene for dance/drill from now to the OSAA State Championships in March. The race is on!
healeyjamesr@gmail.com
Subscribe
