When dancers from Pacific Arts Complex went to the Kids Artistic Revue nationals in Anaheim, they won three coveted individual titles and huge trophies, two of the group dancers were named Grand National Champions, and the studio won the Elite Studio of Excellence Award, for having the most high scores in the Elite category.
Co-owners/team drectors Tisha Nusbaum and Leslie Johnson were thrilled.
“After two weeks of intensive rehearsals we knew we were heading in feeling strong and confident, but we’re blown away by the awards they received,” they said. “These kids are driven, talented, and best of all they are kind. We are just so proud of every single one of them and can’t wait to see what they achieve next!”
There was a lot of competition. Dancers from more than 75 studios were in attendance.
Nationals Title Winners (from left): Miss Teen Dance America Mariska Goldstein; 1st Runner Up Miss Teen Dance America Eliana Klein; Miss Dance America Ella L’Heureux.
Ella L’Heureux of Santa Cruz was crowned Elite Miss Dance, with her routine, “Lost Love,” beating over 100 other regional title winners.
Mariska Goldstein of Corralitos, who performed a routine to “New York New York,” was named Elite Miss Teen Dance, with first runner-up going to Eliana Klein of Santa Cruz.
These dancers took 1st and 2nd overall in Elite Teen Solos, and Mariska won 1st overall Elite Teen Duo with her partner Bella Garvey of Aptos. Elite is the top category.
Twelve soloists from Pacific Arts Complex took high point awards in the fiercely competitive categories of Elite Teens and Elite Seniors, and soloists of all levels placed in the top 20.
As they competed in groups, they consistently placed in the top 10 and took 1st overall in multiple categories and age ranges. Other honors included Best Choreography, Judges Choice, and National Studio of the Year.
Six of Pacific Arts Complex’s group dances received some of the highest scores of the competition, which earned them spots in the Grand Finals Showcase at the end of the week.
National Studio of Excellence Award: Tisha Nusbaum (owner), Leslie Johnson, Tanee Taylor, Alexis Valoroso, and Cassie Block.
Participating in the Elite National Grand Champion team: Aptos High grads Harlyn Cavanaugh, Abby Danish, Milana Work; Dani Delgadillo and Lili Rigor (Aptos High dance team assistants); Aptos High students Bella Garvey, Juliana Alvarez, Mia Trujillo, Amelia Valoroso and Natalie Perez; and girls from around Santa Cruz County, Mariska Goldstein, Ella L’Heureux, Makayla Mountain, Smaranda Proca, Savannah Waltrip, and Acacia Ziai.
Participating in the Primary National Grand Champion team: Aubrey Casillas, Damaris Castaneda, Kalleigh Estrada, Addison Forbes, Lenna Jordan, Kaisa Palmquist, Gabriela Penick and Jordan Wright.
Pacific Arts Complex taps into dance teachers in Aptos, with instruction by Tanee Taylor, Aptos High dance team co-director, Alexis Valoroso, Aptos High dance team co-director and Aptos High graduate, and Cassie Block, Aptos Junior High dance team director.
Elite Duo National Champions (center, from left): Mariska Goldstein and Bella Garvey, with teachers/choreographers Tisha Nusbaum (far left) and Tanee Taylor (far right).
They, along with Nusbaum and Johnson, coached the two groups that won Grand National Championships, the Primary team and the Elite team.
The competition bodes well for Aptos Jr High and High School dance as about a dozen dancers are on the 2023-24 school dance teams.
Pacific Arts Complex has two locations, one in midtown Santa Cruz and the other in Watsonville by the airport, and is a vendor for Ocean Grove Charter School in Santa Cruz.
Season 12 starts Sept. 5. For more info, email to pacificartscomplex@gmail.com.
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TOP PHOTO: Elite National Grand Champions, Primary National Grand Champions.