Spark dancers get their kicks from The Rockettes on NYC visit

Dancers from Spark Dance Studio have returned from a trip to New York City, where they attended master classes at renowned studios, learned high kicks from the Rockettes and received acting tips from the cast of “Wicked.”

The performing company at Spark Dance Studio has participated in five dance competitions the 2008-2009 season, and overall placed very well for a first-year studio.

In May, the studio, located in the Vintage Hills Shopping Center, earned the recognition for overall studio excellence at the Kids Artistic Revue (KAR) dance competition in Alameda. The award included an invitation to attend the KAR All Star Kid dance convention in New York City from July 22-27.

Six Spark company dancers attended master classes in jazz, tap, hip hop and theater at Broadway Dance Studio and Steps on Broadway. They learned to perform eye-high kicks from the Rockettes and went through a mock audition at Radio City Music Hall, and got some acting tips from cast members from the hit musical “Wicked” at the Actors Temple.

The conventioneers partook in an extensive guided tour of Manhattan, which included a walk through Central Park and Ground Zero, where the World Trade Center plaza is being rebuilt.

Dancers included Elizabeth Arrigali, Lauren Cabral, Jordynn Craft, Kate Edsinger, Jessica McFall and Bailey Yang, as well as Tamara Taves, owner and studio director of Spark.