Donna Frech dancers clean up at Talent Olympics

NORWICH – The Donna Frech School of Dance attended The Talent Olympics at the Fernwood Resort in the Poconos Nov. 30 through Dec. 3. Dance studios from Maryland, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey competed in many dance and performing art genres. Among these were Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Hip Hop, Acro/Gymnastic, Lyrical, Pointe, Ethnic Dancing, Pantomime, Novelty, Production,Vocal, Musician, and Modeling.

Talent Olympics, one of the oldest dance competitions in the country, has been offering a venue for dancers to test their skills and be judged accordingly for over 27 years. The competition has kept to the ‘old fashioned’ way of scoring contestants –1st, 2nd, and 3rd places, as opposed to adjudication. “It makes competing very challenging ... not everyone comes home with trophies,” according to Donna Frech Greenberg, the dance school’s owner/director. “Competitors are judged and scored. The top 3 in the category are awarded 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place respectively. If you deserve a 1st place, then you are the only one who receives it.”

Students at the Donna Frech School of Dance enjoyed going to the competition. The parents love it, too. “Everyone has such a great time. It’s a positive, wonderful experience. Although we don’t attend many competitions, I have kept this one on my list,” said Greenberg. “We have been attending Talent Olympics for nearly a decade. It is a friendly competition,” according to Greenberg. “Our students get to know, become friends with and learn from dancers from other studios.”

In addition to placement awards for each of the categories and age groups, Talent Olympics presents special studio awards.

The Donna Frech School Of Dance award achievements:

18 - 1st place awards:

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Katie Redd - modern solo

Katie Redd - ballet solo

Bethany Sortman - lyrical solo

Laura Cammarn - tap solo

Katherine Wansor - vocal solo

Straighten Up & Fly Right - jazz group age 16 and up

Summertime - lyrical group age 16 and up

Invitation To The Dance- ballet group age 13-15