Center Stage Dance Academy in Ross finalist in Industry Dance Awards

Center Stage Dance Academy in Ross is a finalist for a national award.

The dance routine they’re nominated for is a bit called “Miami Heat” — a Miami Sound Machine/Gloria Estefan mix — and features a total of 42 dancers, which is every child that competes with Center Stage.

“We try to pick a variety of music, and who doesn’t like Miami Sound Machine?” said Chelsea Schilpp, owner and artistic director of Center Stage Dance Academy in Ross. “Our entire team was in the number, which is pretty cool because most of our numbers are smaller. We do only one number every year where every kiddo who competes with us is a part of it and it happens to be this number.”

The routine was nominated as a People’s Choice Award National Finalist in the Breakout Dance Competition category.

“It is primarily jazz and acro, which is a lot of tumbling, a lot of fancy tricks, so it’s pretty great,” Schilpp said. “I think it is truly the culmination of 17 years of hard work, not only for myself as the owner but my staff as well as every student that has walked through our doors. This (recognition) is representative of our entire dance family history. To me, it’s the ultimate honor. I’m incredibly humbled by it.”

Schilpp said Center Stage is up against winners from 11 other dance circuits for the ultimate prize. In October, she and her competitive company director Jack Mattachione will be among those flying out to Los Angeles for the award ceremony.