Advanced Placement
COMPETITION PROGRAM
As an industry-leading Dance Company, DESOD believes in engaging with the community and embracing the talents of our local aspiring artists. Our goal is to offer audiences nationwide a chance to experience a large variety of dazzling productions and to provide our AP students a higher form of dance education.
ABOUT OUR PROGRAM
Is your child ready to explore all forms of movement and challenge themselves....are you ready for a greater commitment to dance? If so, we would love to invite you to our AP Competition Program.
AP dancers attend multiple classes each week and dance with local civic groups, in numerous dance competitions and every night in our end of the year recital production. DESOD is proud to be a member of Dance Master's of America, which provides us the opportunity to bring quality dance instruction and to educate each dancer in a nurturing and self exploring environment. Our staff believes that the lessons of determination, teamwork and dedication learned in the dance studio will help them become well-rounded individuals.
AUDITIONS
Auditions for the 2023-2024 season coming soon!
Dancers auditioning for our AP Program are required to attend our Summer Intensive- The Diana Evans Dance Experience.
Find out more about our intensive here.
2021-2022
Season Highlights
We are so excited for another amazing season with our talented dancers!
In the fall we were thrilled to take some of our soloists to NUVO, Ohio Dance Masters, and NYCDA
Fall competition recap- we were thrilled to take some of our solos to several competitions this fall.
At Nuvo- Avery, Tate, and Kyler all received class awards!
Ohio Dance Masters- we were thrilled that all our dancers who participated in scholarship classes received an award! Congratulations to Savannah, Chloe, Paxton, Haley (5th in 3 disciplines) Kendall (4th in 3 disciplines) Clare (3rd in 3 disciplines) Hadley, Briley, Jennifer, Shelby, Afton, Kyler (1st in 3 disciplines) Tate (1st in 4 disciplines) Hadley, Sophia (4th in 3 disciplines) and Taylor (2nd in 3 disciplines)
In the solo portion of ODM all our dancers were beautiful! Congratulations to Paxton, Clare, Kendall, Haley, Kyler, Jennifer, and Taylor on your special awards, and congratulations to Afton, Kyler, and Taylor on receiving High Point Ribbons
Our last competition for the fall was NYCDA. We were so proud of all of our soloists- including Taylor who placed 20th in Senior solos and was Outstanding Dancer Runner-Up! Another congratulations goes to Reece, Kendall, and Paxton who were Outstanding Dancer Finalist, and Elizabeth Sweat who received a Tap class award.
Congratulations to all our amazing dancers who participated in solo competitions this fall! We can’t wait to bring solos and groups to competitions this spring!!
2020-2021
Season Highlights
In such difficult times for our dancers and families we are so proud of the determination and perseverance our dancers showed all year long, and we are amazed at the growth in our dancers over this difficult year.
Nationals at Beyond the Stars
Cincinnati, OH
We hit the ground running during the Dance Masters of Ohio Regional Dance Competition in November! All of our groups and soloists had a very successful weekend and we are so proud of all our AP dancers!
Our group numbers were awarded Platinum Awards and our Duet,
"Girl From the North Country" with Stephen Davis and Sophia Cooper, was awarded First Overall in the Regional Championship!
In January, some of our AP Dancers traveled to Cherry Valley, Ohio for the Dance Masters of America Title and Scholarship Competition. We had so many wonderful moments with our dancers and they all danced beautifully. We could not have asked for a better weekend with many being their first Solo Competition!
Our cherry on top of such a successful weekend was Nate Krohmer winning Ohio Dance Master's Teen Mr. Dance 2020!
Afton Cornelius was awarded Most Talented Non-Finalist in ODM’s Junior Miss Dance Title Competition!
Stephen Davis participated in ODM’s Scholarship auditions and was awarded a full ride to Point Park University’s Summer Intensive from Point Park faculty member Kiesha Lalama plus a scholarship to Tremaine Workshop!
Hadley Roach received the Shining Star Award in Kiesha Lalama’s energetic Musical Theater Class!!
We can't wait to see what else our DESOD Dancers will do this Competition Season!
2019-2020 Competition Season
Due to COVID-19, two Regional Competitions and our
Summer Nationals were canceled
We were so lucky to have Broadway Star and So You Think You Can Dance winner Melanie Moore back in our studio for three days of Master Classes last fall.
Her fun sweet spirit was shared with all our AP dancers, from our youngest to our oldest. It was an amazing three days and our dancers learned so much from this incredibly talented performer.
Thank you, Melanie for spending your time with us and sharing your knowledge, talent, and love for dance with our students and teachers.
2018-2019 Solo Title Winners
These are only the highlights. All our Soloists had a very successful season
Stephen Davis: Mr. Dance of Ohio, Mr. DEA/Knoxville and 1st Runner-Up Mr. Dance of America
Audrey Zahn: 2nd Runner-Up Miss Dance of Ohio and Teen Miss DEA/Knoxville
Savannah Cooper: 3rd Runner-Up Miss Dance of Ohio
Victoria Antoniou: 6th Runner-Up Miss Dance of Ohio and Miss DEA/Knoxville (Director's Award)
Paxton Davis: Small Fry Miss DEA/Knoxville
Briley Davis: Junior Miss DEA/Knoxville
2018-2019 Competition Season
Some of our highlights from this seasons Dance Competitions
AWARD WINNING DANCES
We were honored to receive many awards at the national and regional levels. Some of our proudest accomplishments include:
2019 DANCE MASTER'S OF AMERICA NATIONALS in Atlanta
Stephen Davis: 1st Runner-Up Mr. Dance of America
12 and Under DMA Grand National Championship: In The Garden of Statues, Make 'Em Laugh
13 and Over DMA Grand National Championship: Syncopation in Blue, Les Miserables, Fairy Doll, Piano Man, The Box
The Box: 1st Overall Group Grand National Championship
Briley Davis: 6th Place- 11/12 Year Olds
Avery Brewer: 14th Place - 13/14 Year Olds
Ashley Frazier: 14th Place - 15/16 Year Olds
Savannah Cooper: 13th Place - 16/17 Year Olds
Audrey Zahn: 10th Place (Tied) - 16/17 Year Olds
Victoria Antoniou: 10th Place (Tied) - 16/17 Year Olds
Brennan Shackelford: 10th Place (Tied) - 16/17 Year Olds
Syncopation in Blue: 6th Place - 15/16 Year Olds Duet/Trio
Fairy Doll: 5th Place - 15/16 Year Olds Duet/Trio
Night at the Roxbury: 1st Place - 15/16 Year Olds Group
The Box: 1st Place - 17/18 Year Olds Group
Step In Time: 4th Place - 15/16 Year Olds Extended Line
For Rosa: 2nd Place - 15/16 Year Olds Extended Line
Piano Man: 1st Place - 15/16 Year Olds Extended Line
Specialty Awards: Paxton Davis Solo, Shelby Lucas Solo, Polar Express, and Ugly Bug Ball
REGIONAL AWARD WINNER
Ohio Dance Masters
Mr. Dance of Ohio: Stephen Davis
2019 SPRING REGIONALS
Syncopation in Blue: 1st Overall Teen Duo/Trio – Starquest
The Fitness Maniacs: 1st Overall Senior Large Group – Starquest
The Fall: 1st Overall Senior Line – Starquest
Les Miserables: 1st Overall Teen/Senior Mega Line and Apogee Winner – Starquest
Night at The Roxbury: 1st Overall Senior Small Group – Starquest
In The Garden of Statues: 1st Overall Junior Small Group – Starquest and DEA
Pots and Pans: 1st Overall Senior Large Group – Starquest
Make ‘Em Laugh: 1st Overall Junior Line – DEA
Piano Man: 1st Overall Teen Line – DEA
Shakin’ The Blues Away at the Holiday Inn: 1st Overall Senior Production – DEA
A Ride on the Polar Express: 1st Overall Junior Line – DEA
The Chain: 1st Overall Teen Duet/Trio – DEA
Buroque and Blue: 1st Overall Teen Small Group – DEA
Friend Like Me: 1st Overall Teen Large Group and Apogee Winner – Starquest
Step In Time: 1st Overall Teen Large Group – DEA
The Box: 1st Overall Senior Small Group – DEA
Times Up: 1st Overall Senior Large Group - DEA
Choreography and Specialty Awards
Diana Evans School of Dance was awarded the Select Studio of Excellence Award – Starquest
The Chain: Senior Fusion Award – Starquest
The Ugly Bug Ball: Petite Odyssey Award – Starquest
Step In Time: Senior Odyssey Award – Starquest and Presidents Award - DEA
In The Garden of Statues: IDA People’s Choice Award – Starquest
The Grand Piano (Victoria Antoniou Solo): National Directors Award – DEA
For Rosa: 1st Overall Senior Large Group and Choreography Award - ODM
2017-2018 SOLO TITLE WINNERS
These are only the highlights!
All our soloists had a very successful season!
Natalie Scolf: Miss Dance of Ohio 2017 and Miss DEA/Knoxville
Audrey Zahn: 4th Runner-Up Miss Dance of Ohio and Teen Miss DEA/Knoxville
Aaron Choate: 1st Runner-Up Mr. Dance of America and Mr. DEA/Knoxville
Stephen Davis: Teen Mr. DEA/Knoxville
Taylor McCardle: Pre-Teen Miss DEA/Knoxville
Jennifer Cheser: Junior Miss DEA/Knoxville
2017-2018 COMPETITION SEASON
2018 STARQUEST DANCE NATIONALS: GALVESTON HIGHLIGHTS
DESOD's AP Program recently traveled to Galveston, Texas to compete at the Starquest Dance Nationals! It was a fantastic week of dancing and we could not be more proud of all our dancers, all our hard work and dedication throughout the whole year really paid off! All of our groups received a Platinum and many were awarded specialty awards....here are the highlights:
Natalie Scolf Solo - I Will Always Love You: 1st Overall
Three Little Girls - Teen Duo/Trio: 7th Overall
Revelation - Senior Duo/Trio: 1st Overall
The Box - Senior Small Group: 1st Overall and Top Open/Acro Performance
Cats - Teen Large Group: 2nd Overall
The Ministry of Silly Walks - Teen Large Group: 7th Overall
Cubism - Senior Large Group: 1st Overall and Top Tap Performance
Ellis Island - Senior Large Group: 2nd Overall
For Rosa - Senior Large Group: 3rd Overall
The Fitness Maniac - Senior Line: 2nd Overall
The Snake Charmer - Teen/Senior Mega Line: 1st Overall
Alexander Cobb Classic Senior Solo - Across The Universe: 4th Overall
Welcome to Disneyland - Petite Small Group: 8th Overall
I Like to Fuss - Petite Small Group: 9th Overall
Night at the Roxbury - Classic Teen Small Group: 3rd Overall
Make Em Laugh - Classic Junior Large Group: 8th Overall
A Friend Like Me - Classic Teen Large Group: 5th Overall
Saved - Classic Teen Large Group: 10th Overall
DESOD also received numerous specialty Awards throughout the week...here are some of the highlights:
Choreography Awards
Top Score Vocal Teen/Senior Solo - Maybe This Time
Teen Odyssey Award: The Ministry of Silly Walks
Senior Odyssey Award: The Snake Charmer
DESOD was also awarded in the Select Circle of Excellence as a whole Studio!
The cherry on top of the whole week was having numerous dances advance into the National Finals!
DESOD had THREE dances advance into the Classic Dance Off:
Make Em Laugh: 5th Place
A Friend Like Me: 5th Place
A Night at the Roxbury: 3rd Place
DESOD also had FIVE dances advance into the Quest for the Best Dance Finals:
The Box: 1st Place
Cats: 3rd Place
Cubism: 1st Place
The Fitness Maniac: 2nd Place
The Snake Charmer: 2nd Place
The Box and Cubism also placed 1st and 2nd respectively in the final showdown with Cubism also winning the Teen/Senior Apogee Award
2016-2017 AWARD WINNING DANCES
We were honored to receive many awards at the national and regional levels. Some of our proudest accomplishments include:
Dance Maters of America – National Convention 2017
Aaron Choate: 1st Runner-Up Mr. Dance of America
When The Clock Strikes Two: 1st Overall Extended and Production Division, Grand National Finalists
Regional Award Winners
Ohio Dance Masters
Miss Dance of Ohio: Natalie Scolf
2018 Spring Regionals
Ellis Island: The American Dream: 1st Overall Teen Large Group – DEA and Top Open/Acro Award – Starquest
The Fitness Maniacs: 1st Overall Teen Line – DEA and 1st Overall Senior Line – Starquest
Hamilton: 1st Overall Senior Large Group – DEA
The Snake Charmer: 1st Overall Production – DEA and 1st Overall Mega Lines – Starquest
Night at The Roxbury: 1st Overall Senior Small Group – DEA
Nothingest Girl: 1st Overall Pre-Teen Small Group – DEA
Will Power: 1st Overall Pre-Teen Large Group – DEA
Welcome to Disneyland: 1st Overall 12 and Under Small Group – DEA
I’ll Be Seeing You: 1st Overall Senior Duet/Trio – DEA, Starquest and ODM
Life and Death and Life: (Aaron Choate Solo) 1st Overall Senior Solo – DEA and Starquest
Three Little Girls: 1st Overall Teen Duet/Trio – Starquest
The Revelation: 1st Overall Senior Duet/Trio – Starquest
Cubism: 1st Overall Senior Large Group – Starquest and Top Tap Award – Starquest
Friend Like Me: 1st Overall Teen Large Group – Starquest
Choreography and Specialty Awards
The Ministry of Silly Walks: Odyssey Award – Starquest
The Snake Charmer: IDA People’s Choice Award – Starquest
Cubism: Apogee Award for highest score of the competition – Starquest
We R Toys: Odyssey Award – Starquest
The Ugly Bug Ball: Odyssey Award – Starquest
Ellis Island: The American Dream: Presidents Award for highest score of competition and Choreography Award – DEA
Life and Death and Life (Aaron Choate Solo): National Directors Award – DEA
Night at The Roxbury: Most Entertaining Award – DEA, Starquest and ODM