SHU’s Dance Company Excels at International Competition

Participants win awards in several categories during virtual dance contest

Six members of Sacred Heart University’s dance company won awards in the esteemed World Dance Movement International Virtual Competition.

The competition, which ran March 1 to 3, is renowned for its role in fostering cultural exchange through the art of dance and celebrating the commitment and artistry of performers worldwide. With a mission to cultivate connections between dancers from diverse cultures, the competition serves as a platform for inspiration and transformation within the dance community.

SHU’s dance company submitted five performance videos, and two internationally renowned judges critiqued each one. The judges assigned to SHU’s submissions were Jessica Franco and Michèle Assaf from Los Angeles, Randi Lee from North Carolina and Shelly Hutchinson from New York. The dancers received their comments once the competition was complete and all entries were judged.

“This experience was incredibly beneficial for SHU dancers because it put them on a globally recognized stage in front of judges and on livestreams reaching many influential people in the dance industry,” said Taylor Krebuszewski, dance program assistant director. “Many of our students received awards for their skills and artistry.”

The SHU dancers were recognized in a number of categories. Sage Thomas, Kate Degnan, Brayden Wihbey and Kathryn Zimmer qualified for the World Dancer of the Year title. Wihbey also placed first as a senior soloist in the show dance/tap/open and street dance/commercial category.

Kelsey Jacobsen and Maura Walters came in first as a senior duo in all of the duo/trio/formation categories. Degnan came in second in the senior solo category for classical/neo-classical ballet and jazz/lyrical, and Thomas took first place as a senior soloist in the contemporary/modern category.

In addition, Thomas and Degnan received scholarships to the Joffrey Ballet School and Peridance Dance Center in New York. Thomas will attend Joffrey Ballet over the summer with elite instructors and choreographers.

“A major takeaway from this experience is how lucky I am to be able to dance and share my love for dance with others,” Thomas said. “I love getting feedback on how to improve myself as a dancer because it only makes me stronger.”

Degnan said virtual competitions add a new dimension to dance. “Realizing that there are ample opportunities to continue dancing beyond graduation has been a revelation for me,” Degnan said. “While dance competitions might have seemed like a relic of the past, the advent of virtual competitions has provided a refreshing avenue for us to showcase our talents. It is a testament to the evolving landscape of dance and the endless possibilities that lie ahead of us post-graduation.”

Photo: Kate Degnan. Photograph by Steven Ruggerio