DESMOINESREGIONAL April7Ǧ11,2021 IowaEventsCenter TalentOnParadeisownedandmanagedbyKimberlyandEricMcCluer YourhardworkingTOPstaffforthisshowalsoincludes CalebCeretti,MartiClary,AllisonConnely,HaleyHossǦJameson,AudraKey,BrendanLean, EdenLegrand,AnthonyLofendo,BronsonMans,DebraMasur,ScottMcCluer,JasenPage, JohnEarlRobinsonandEvaSeavers TalentOnParade,LLC AlivePhotoandVideo,LLC (316)522Ͳ4836 (314)472Ͳ5027 talentonparade.com alivephotovideo.com WELCOMETOTOP2021 Weareveryexcitedtowelcomeyoutothis2021regionalcompetition.Thisisour24thseasonand,despitethe extremechallengesofrecentevents,wearethrilledtobebackwithyou.Thefollowingarethe“TOP10” pointstokeepinmindforafun,fairandsafeeventforeveryone. 1. Dancecompetitionbyitsverynatureisasubjectiveevent,meaningitissubjecttoawidevarietyofopinions. Theoutcomeisalsosubjecttoavarietyofchangingcircumstancesthroughoutanygivendaythatyoulikelyhavenocontrol over.It’sjustadancecompetition.Pleaseacceptitforwhatitis.Especiallythisseason.Breathe,relax,havefunandenjoy thischancetodanceregardlessoftheoutcome.Thepastyearhascertainlytaughtusthatyouneverknowwhenyouwillbe allowedtotakethestageagaininthefuture. 2. Videorecordingandphotography(flashornoflash)willbestrictlyprohibitedbyaudiencemembers,except duringawardspresentations.Thisisaverycommonpracticeintheentertainmentindustry,andwithgoodreason. Studiodirectors,teachersandotherparentstendtogetverygrouchywhenchoreographyand/orcostumingarecopied withoutapproval.Moreimportantly,we’retryingtoprotecttheprivacyandsafetyofthekids.Thefactistherearepeople outthereofaveryquestionablenaturewhomaytrytousephotographicimagesinappropriately(gross!). 3. Donotleavepersonalitemsunattended.Again,thesadfactisthattherearethoseamonguswhowillthinknothingof takingstuffthatdoesn’tbelongtothemifgiventheopportunity.TOPcannotberesponsibleforlost,broken,misplacedor stolenitemsofanykind. 4. Pleasebeconsiderateofoneanotherinthedressingareas.Especiallyunderthecurrentcircumstances.Werequest thatyoulimityourtimeinthedressingareastoo.Getin,doyourbusiness,thengetout.Also,ifdressingassistanceis necessary,pleaselimittooneadulthelperperdancer.Youmightalsoconsiderarrivingatthevenueinyourfirstcostumeof thedayandleavingwhileinyourlastcostume.Remembertoalsopracticesocialdistancingasmuchaspossibleinthe dressingareas,(andinallotherareasofthevenuetoo). 5. Masksandsocialdistancingmayberequired.Wewillfollowandenforcethemandatesrequiredbytheappropriate authoritiesforthecity/state/venuewearein.Specificinformationforeachshowwillbepostedattalentonparade.comand includedwithinformationprovidedtothestudiodirector.Pleasebecompliantandrespectfulinfollowinganysuch mandatesastheyareputinplaceforyoursafetyandforthesafetyofthosearoundyou.Also,donotmoveseatinginto largergroupsthanwhatispreͲsetfortheday.Thesavingofseatsmayalsoberestrictedduetoareductioninseating requiredforsocialdistancingpurposes.Withlimitedseatingavailable,wealsoaskthatextendedfamilymembers,nonͲ dancingfriends,etc.watchtheshowfromhomeontheliveͲstreamfeed(whereavailable). 6. Dancersshouldremainintheaudienceforawards.Wewillnotbringdancerstothestageasagroupthisseasonfor awardsexceptforselectedTOP10lineups.Instead,wewillbeaskingyoutochooseonerepresentativeforeachacttopick upwhencalledbackstage.Specificdirectionsforeachawardsceremonywillbeannouncedfromthestage. 7. Assignedperformancetimesaretobeconsideredapproximateonly.Flexibilityiskeytokeepingtheshowmoving. Pleasebeready,andwilling,toperformearlierorlaterthanscheduled.Also,beawarethatthetimingofawards ceremoniesorothereventsmayfluctuatewiththescheduleduringthecourseoftheday.Weencourageyoutomonitor theprogressoftheshowontheDanceEventsapp.AskastafferattheTOPShopmerchandiseareaformoreinformation abouttheappifneeded. 8. Pleaselimityourmovingaroundintheaudienceduringstageperformances.Whenyoustand,orwalkdownan aisleduringaperformanceyou’reblockingsomeoneelse’sview.Weunderstandthatit’snotalwayspossible,butpleasetry totimemovingaroundtoagapbetweenacts. 9. Smokingofanykindisprohibitedinthevenue.Thisincludesanykindofelectronicand/orvapordevices. 10. Gunsareprohibitedinthevenueandonthevenuegrounds.Thisincludesconcealedcarry. PARTICIPATINGSTUDIOS A The Dance Konnection - Montour, Iowa B Brekke Dance Center - West Des Moines, Iowa C Independent, Dycus - Altoona, Iowa D Dancin' With Roxie - Hampton, Iowa E HardCor Performing Arts - Denison, Iowa F Dance Inc. - Ottumwa, Iowa G Top Hatter Dance Studio - Fort Madison, Iowa H DXP - Centerville, Iowa I Nicole's School of Dance - Ankeny, Iowa J Superstars Performing Arts - Norwalk, Iowa K Deborah's School of Dance - Earlham, Iowa L Robert Thomas Dancenter - Des Moines, Iowa M Studio Y - Spencer, Iowa O School of Classical Ballet & Dance - West Des Moines, Iowa P Independent, Mordini - Des Moines, Iowa Q Ashlee's Creative Arts Academy - Polk City, Iowa R Artistic Intensity Dance Company - Davenport, Iowa S Darcees School of Dance - Saint Joseph, Missouri T Leslie’s Dance & Tumbling - Creston, Iowa U Ankeny Dance and Performing Arts Academy - Polk City, Iowa V Express Yourself Performing Edge - Des Moines, Iowa W The Dance Connection - Webster City, Iowa TOP“POP” akaProgramsOnPause Althoughwearethrilledtohavereturnedtohostingcompetitions,we’realsosad thatsomeofwhatmakesTOPspecialisstillonpauseduetotheCovidpandemic. Thefollowingprogramsare“waitinginthewings”andwillmakeareappearance assoonasitissafetobringthemback. TOPSTARZ TOPStarzisourinvitationͲonlyprogramthatbringstogetherselecteddancersfromour regionalcompetitionstoparticipateinspecialproductionperformancesatoursummer NationalFinals.WehavepausedthisprogramuntilCovidrestrictionsgenerallyhavebeen relaxedenoughtoallowforlargegatheringsofdancersfromdifferentstudiostorehearseand performtogetherincloseproximitysafely.Ifatanytimeduringthecourseofthisseasonwe becomeconfidentinaliftingofrestrictionsforthesummer,wewillestablishanopen enrollmentforthosewhoareinterested.Regardlessofwhetherthathappensthisseasonor not,wehopetobringbackTOPStarzinitsoriginalformforthe2022season. TOPCHARITYDANCEDOWN OurCharityDanceDowneventhasmadeitpossible(withyourgeneroushelp)forusto donatemorethan$100,000overtheyearstosomeveryworthcauses.Thisisatoughoneto putonpausesinceweknowthesenonͲprofitsdesperatelyneedourhelp,nowmorethan ever.Wehavenochoicehoweveruntilweareclearedtobringtogetheralargegroupof dancersfromdifferentstudiostothestageagain.Whenthathappens,wewillbringitback.In themeantime,youcanmakeindividualdonationsdirectlytoourfavoritecharities,Drea’s DreamandTheTruth365,viatheirwebsitesifyouwouldliketo.Drea’sDreamisadance therapy/expressivemovementprogramforchildrenwithcancerandspecialneeds (dreasdream.org).TheTruth365isanationalchildhoodcancercampaignwhoseNational SpokespersonisTOPDancerGabiShull(thetruth365.org). COLLEGEBOUNDDANCEFAIR ThisprogramispartoftheTOPmissiontoassistdancersinmovingbeyondthecompetition stageandintoposthighschooldanceprograms.It’saneventwhereawidevarietyof colleges,universities,andpreparatorydanceprogramsarerepresented.Thousandsofdollars inscholarshipsarealsotypicallyawardedonthespotaswell.Wenormallyhostthisevent everyotheryearand2021wassupposedtobean“on”year,butCOVIDrestrictionsledtoits cancellation.Watchforannouncementsattalentonparade.comaboutwhenCollegeBound willreturninthefuture. DESMOINESREGIONALJUDGES HELENESTRELLADenver,Colorado HelenwasbornandraisedintheSanFranciscoBayArea.Muchofheryouthwasspentintherigorsofcompetitive artisticandrhythmicgymnasticsthroughwhichshefoundherloveofdance.Shecanbeseeninprintandcommercial workforSolaOpticalLensesand2000Olympics.In2002shefoundherwaybacktoSonomaCountywhereshe directedlocalcompetitivecompaniesuntilthebirthofherown,EstrellaDanceCompanyandTheDanceRoom.Helenis currentlyafacultymemberofCampMe,theBoulderJazzDanceWorkshop,TheaterArtsPreparatorySchool, Winterfest&SummerfestTheConvention,LADanceCampintheHighSierras,TalentonParadeDanceDirective Convention,andjudgesforTalentonParade.Sheisanationallyrecognizedinstructorandchoreographerwhotravels extensivelyteachingmasterclassesandsettingchoreographyonvariousdancecompanies.In2010Helenrelocated toColoradoandnowresidesinDenverwheresheistheownerofMotionDanceCenter.Helenisknownforher cuttingedge,contemporarystylewhilefocusingonthetechnicaldetailsofdance. KARALEISATAPIAKansasCity,Missouri Karaleisaisadancer,choreographer,andinstructorinthegreaterKansasCityarea.Shestarteddancingataveryyoung ageandtrainedprofessionallyinallstylesofdance.SheexcelsinthestyleofTap,assheisanalumniofTheAmerican TapCompany.Hervigorousandbroadtrainingbackgroundhasledhertomanygreatopportunitiesinherdancecareer. KaraleisastartedteachingveryearlyinherdancecareerandhaschoreographedformanystudiosallovertheMidwest. Herworkhasreceivednumerousawardsthroughoutthecountryforchoreography,technique,andprecision.After finishingschoolinMissouri,shemovedtoLasVegas,Nevadatodanceprofessionallyandcontinuehertraining.While KaraleisalivedinLasVegas,sheworkedwithworldrenownedchoreographerssuchasHelenePhillips,DonBellamy, AdamCates,TonyCoppola,ColleenCraig,DonMirault,andJustinBryant.Karaleisahasbeenworkinginthe competitiondancecircuitforover8yearsandhaslovedeverybitofit.Shehashadtheopportunitytoassistmany choreographers,teachnumerousmasterclasses,andlearnfromthemostamazingdanceinstructorsinthe world.Karaleisahopestobringknowledgeandpositivitytothecompetitiondanceworld,allwhilemakinganimpacton others. NEALEYRITZELBelleville,Illinois Nealey’spassionfordancebeganattheearlyageof3.Althoughshetrainedinballet,jazz,hiphop,andcontemporary whilegrowingup,taphasalwaysheldaspecialplaceinherheart.For13years,NealeytraveledtheU.S.competingand attendingconventionswhereshewonseveralnationaltitles.Nealeyquicklybecameknownforherenergeticstage