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Valley dancers to perform at Orange Bowl
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Dancers Kristen Weiss (left), Sarah Gleydura, Shannon Joy, Amanda Walsh, Lexi Marco, and Amanda Jorendt, all of Ruth's Robics and Dance Company in Boardman, showed off some of the form and training they'll be bringing to Miami, Florida on Jan. 4. The students are part of a group of studio dancers who will be performing in the Orange Bowl half-time show and participating in a dance convention in Florida.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Ruth Smrek-Balestra, owner and choreographer at Ruth's Robic's and Dance Company, shared a smile with a few of her students who will be traveling to the Orange Bowl this January. The group is, from left, Sarah Bobbey, Smrek-Balestra, Tiffany Gillen, and Kiera Jones.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Boardman native McCallen Warrick, who is a junior, will also be traveling to Miami in January to perform in the Orange Bowl half-time show. Warrick is shown here dancing in her studio's last recital performance.
By SARAH FOOR
Come Jan. 4, 10 local dancers will travel to Miami, Fla., for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dance at the Orange Bowl halftime show.
The students of Ruth’s Robics and Dance Co. will participate in a dance intensive with professional choreographers as well as dance with the band Train during the game performance.
“This is an amazing opportunity for my students to show their skills at a great event and expand their dance training. During the game, they’ll be performing in front of 80,000 people,” explained Ruth Smrek-Balestra, studio owner and choreographer.
A pregame dance convention will allow the students to learn from professional choreographers like Rob Schultz, Nick Perry, Laurieann Gibson, JaQuel Knight, Mandy Moore and Bonnie Story.
The 10 students going to Miami are Sarah Bobby (Salem), Tiffany Gillen (Struthers), Sarah Gleydura (Poland), Shannon Joy (Columbiana), Alexa Marco, Amanda Joerndt and McCallen Warrick, all of Boardman, Kristin Weiss (Austintown) and Kiara Jones and Amanda Walsh, both of Youngstown.
“It’s a great honor and we’re excited to represent our area with pride on our trip,” Gleydura said of the performance.
To offset costs for the trip, Ruth’s Robics and Dance Co. is hosting a “Find Your Treasure” sale on Nov. 20 from noon to 5 p.m. to help raise funds. The students are selling their own goods at the event, but the sale will also offer baked goods, toys and miscellaneous items.
The studio is located at 5626 South Avenue in Boardman.