Mia Bella’s dancers brought home second national championship this month
In its inaugural year last year, Palm Coast’s Mia Bella Dance Academy sent seven dancers to the national Celebration Talent Competition in Gatlinburg, Tenn., last July, and came home with two awards: best choreography overall for Mia Bella founder Brie Valenti, and a championship in the rising star category.
This time around, the academy sent 20 dancers plus Valenti to Gatlinburg and brought home four awards: first, second and third place in the competition’s Dance Showdown. Valenti again won the national choreographer award, and individual students got soloist awards as well. (See a list of all the winners and awards below the video.)
Valenti, 29, opened Mia Bella on the second floor at the City Market Place about 20 months ago with just 20 students. Today, the dance studio has more than 150 students despite the economic downturn.
Charlotte Marten reports:
Mia Bella Sweeps Gatlinburg[media id=224 width=500 height=400]
Dance name: Heaven
Russell Tanenbaum, Lauren Rawlins, Allie Flagg, Emmary Wolff, Jazmyne Valenti, Brianna O’Brien
2nd Dance off:
dance name: Safari Shananigans
Russell Tanenbaum, Luke Stevens, Lauren Rawlins, Alyssa Ziegler, Nicole Ziegler, Allie Flagg, Sammi Tanenbaum, Kari Dutton, Emmary Wolff, Jazmyne Valenti, Brianna O’Brien, Serena Scalcione, Caroline Rizzo, Alyssa Waldman, Jesalyn Evans, Cimone Williams, Cayla Skeete, Myracle Piginelli, Adrianna Fries, Kaylee Futeh
3rd overall dance off:
dance name: All that Jazz
Lauren Rawlins, Allie Flagg, Ashley Schoendorf
TOP 10 Soloists:
Brianna O’Brien
Jazmyne Valenti
Cayla Skeete
Lauren Rawlins
Nicole Ziegler
Emmary Wolff
Ashley Schoendorf
Russell Tanenbaum
1st overall Trio Top Choreography:
Name: Gratitude
Caroline Rizzo, Serena Scalcione, Alyssa Waldman
1st overall soloists:
Caroline Rizzo, Alyssia Ziegler
palmcoaster says
Congratulations to all his dancing students and to Ms. Valenti!
palmcoaster says
Our city officials should highlight the hard work of these young champions and their trainers, as well as others like the Synchro Bells swim team (excuse me if misspelled) and invite them for a deserved recognition to the next City Council meeting! As well as our local Palm Coast runners winning races in Palm Coast, Volusia and St. Johns counties as well. Will only take just few minutes before the rest of the agenda Items and our local businesses will gladly contribute to pay for the Awards! No need of additional taxes for this. A great way to support the physical fitness of our young and old residents and help to pick up our spirits in these current hard times!
MC Justice says
“Palmcoaster’ Thank you for your congratulations.
PalmCoastDancer says
I feel this article really shows how much Ms. Valenti cares about the art as well as her students. She pushes them and challenges them to their limits, and then some. The amount of improvement in every single one of her dancers is extraordinary and it shows in all of their accomplishments. Winning a national championship TWICE…IN A ROW… that is definitely something to brag about. Great work guys, keep it up. You all are our stars of Palm Coast and if you keep it up you will stars somewhere else to!!