NATIONAL News!! 

Easton and Brooks Uppena, competitive performers with Gotta Dance Academy of Performing Arts LLC, in Lancaster, returned from PLATINUM DANCE Nationals in Panama City Beach, FL last month after singing and dancing their way to the top. Each year, the competitive students at Gotta Dance Academy of Performing Arts LLC, end their competitive season with one, final, competition…Nationals. The entire dance year and three regional competitions are stepping stones to this momentous event. With great anticipation, the Uppena’s packed their dance bags with costumes, shoes, snacks, and more for this one last opportunity to show the world what rural Wisconsin has to offer in talent. Easton and Brooks, sons of Joe and Melissa Uppena came home with huge smiles on their faces and awards in hand! Easton helped kick off the Nationals in the Vocal category. While the category is vocal, Easton danced while he performed and gave a top-notch performance. A panel of judges awarded him a Platinum adjudication and the TOP Vocalist award of Nationals. Making him a National Champion.

Day 4 Nationals Recap!!!! We have two more National Champion teams and some very exciting dance Battle news! First up were the Teen duet/trios! Both of our teen teams received a Platinum! Jorey and Danica’s Lyrical duet of “Fall on Me” received a special judges award for “Clear Connection!” They received second place Overall! The Gotta Dance tap trio of “Another One”, with Hannah, Mazie, and Ava placed first Overall and are NATIONAL CHAMPIONS! Senior Trio of “Latin Nights” received Platinum, a Special Judges Award for being “Spicey Señoritas”, and then placed first Overall! They are also National Champions! Then, the judges announced the top 3 highest scoring duet/trios out of the entire age 12 and up division! ALL THREE were from Gotta Dance, so these girls competed in a dance battle, where the tap trio “Another One” were the Dance Battle Champions!!! The Staff couldn’t have been more proud…or nervous at that moment! We are just thrilled! Brooks’ mini Hip Hop team capped off nationals with their performance of “Clean Up Crew”. They were against more than 25 teams and received Platinum, special judges award for “Nice and Clean,” Fourth Place Overall, and Champion of Hip Hop! “The Clean Up Crew” was then announced as one of the top eight highest-scoring routines of the entire 11 and under recreational division ( around 70 routines). In doing so, they qualified for the championship gala where they danced head-to-head, with the other top teams to determine the grand champion! As a first-year team, this invitation was extremely exciting. Then to top off the individual and group performances, Platinum National Dance Competition announced Gotta Dance Academy of Performing Arts as the Top Recreational Studio of Nationals. “It was such a beautiful shock! We are blessed to have a studio and dance families that promote love, positivity, work ethic, mentorship, and passion for the arts! We are thrilled! The awards and accolades speak for themselves, but the efforts that you don’t see on the trophy are what create that outcome. The diligence, teamwork, perseverance, positive attitudes, friendships, creativity, and work ethic are the life skills that they will take with them forever.” Said Brandi Dreher, Owner/Choreographer at Gotta Dance Academy of Performing Arts.

(Now enrolling new students for Fall of 2023, for more information on dance enrollment contact [email protected])