DESMOINESREGIONAL February26Ǧ28,2021 IowaEventsCenter TalentOnParadeisownedandmanagedbyKimberlyandEricMcCluer YourhardworkingTOPstaffforthisshowalsoincludes CalebCeretti,MartiClary,JoeyDoucette,AudraKey,DebraMasur, ScottMcCluer,JohnEarlRobinsonandAmandaWheeler 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 Melinda's Dance Studio - Williamsburg, Iowa B United All Stars - Fort Dodge, Iowa C Wilson Dance Co. - Monroe, Iowa D Dancin' With Roxie - Hampton, Iowa E Elevation Performing Arts Center - State Center, Iowa G Express Yourself Performing Edge - Des Moines, Iowa H Brekke Dance Center - West Des Moines, Iowa I Leslie’s Dance & Tumbling - Creston, Iowa J The Spotlight - Creston, Iowa K Energy Dance & Tumbling Company - Algona, Iowa L 5 Star Dance & Tumbling Academy - Ida Grove, Iowa N Nicole's School of Dance - Ankeny, Iowa O Independent, Mohagen - Muscatine, Iowa P Innovative Soul Dance Company - Cedar Falls, Iowa Q Independent, Poock - Johnston, Iowa R The Dance Avenue - Des Moines, Iowa S Devine Dancers - Des Moines, Iowa T Fusion Dance - Carroll, Iowa U Dubuque Dance Studio and Gymnastics - Dubuque, Iowa W Star Struck Dance Center - Clare, Iowa X Nicole Rock's School of Dance - West Liberty, Iowa Y Independent, Collier - Rockton, Illinois Z Independent, Mordini - Des Moines, 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 ALBREEBLAKETulsa,Oklahoma BornandraisedinMannford,OK,AlBreeisagraduateofTheaterArtsPreparatorySchoolinLasVegas.During hertimeatTAPSshestudiedwithmanyrenownedteachersindance,singingandacting.AlBreeistrainedin numerousstylesofdanceincluding,ballet,tap,jazz,musicaltheatre,latinballroom,andmore.AlBreewas abletoworkonsetasashowgirlintheDisneymovie,“ShowDogs.”Shealsohadtheopportunitytowork withchoreographerBonnieStoryformultipledancevideosandtutorials.Shehasbeenveryfortunatetowork loyallywithcompaniessuchasFarringtonEntertainment,andHollandAmericaLine,aswellasalongworking relationshipwithRWSEntertainmentGroupinNewYork.AlBreespenttwocontractsasadanceronboardthe MSEurodam,aswellasMSNieuwAmsterdam.DuringhertimeontheMSNieuwAmsterdam,sheworkedas anonstageassistinlongrunningguestshow,“MagicRocks!”StarringillusionistLeonEtienne!Currently, AlBreeworksatvariousdancestudiosintheTulsaareaasatechniqueteacherandchoreographerformany competitivestudios.SheisalsothetechniquepomcoachatBAHighSchoolfortheireighthgradeandjunior varsityteams.SincebeingbackinTulsa,AlBreecontinuestoperformlocallyinmusicvideos,livemusic events,andstageproductions!AlBreegrewupasaTOPkidandisbeyondexcitedtoseethenextgeneration ofperformersgracethestagewiththeirtalent. MARINAMUNOZLasVegas,Nevada MarinagraduatedfromTheAmericanMusicalandDramaticAcademy(AMDA)in2011andspecializes inteachingLuigitechniqueinLosAngelesandthroughouttheworld.ShealsoregularlyteachesJazzat UCLA.Inaddition,sheteachesavarietyofdancestylesfortheGabriellaFoundationEverybodyDance includingJazz,Ballet,HipHop,YogaandCreativeMovement.Shealsoteachesforacoupleofspecial needscompanies:Free2BeMe,dancerswithDownSyndrome,andTheMiracleProject,actorswith Autism.ShehasperformedinLosAngelesinsuchmusicalsasAChorusLine,WestSideStory,Cabaret, TheWorldGoesRound,ThoroughlyModernMillie,andPippin.ShealsotrainedandperformedinNew YorkintheRocketteSummerIntensive. AUDREYHOLLANDKansasCity,Missouri BornandraisedinOverlandPark,Kansas,AudreyHollandhasmorethan20yearsofdanceexperience underherbelt.Shehastrainedextensivelyinallgenresofdance,whiledancingcompetitivelythroughout herlifeandchoreographinglocallyinthemidwest.AudreyattendedTheaterArtsPreparatorySchool (TAPS)inLasVegasunderthedirectionofDonMirault;itwasthereshedevelopedherloveofsingingand actingaswell.AftergraduatingfromTAPS,Audreyworkedinmanyprojectsfromtheatertofilm.She relocatedtoSanDiegotoworkasdancecaptainfortheawardͲwinningBonnieStoryinthe“Electric