AIS Student Wins National Competition

Eighth grader Joya Johnson won First Place in the Junior (age 9–12) Solo Category at the Starpower National Talent Competition, held in Myrtle Beach, SC in July. Joya competed with dancers from all over the East Coast, Indiana, Missouri and Canada.

Joya also won the title of Junior Miss Starpower. Her winning solo was a lyrical dance choreographed to the song “Thinking Over.” Her small group modern dance choreographed to the song “Pretty Girl” also won First Place Junior Small Group at Star Power’s Battle of the Stars. She will be recognized in the Starpower program for the 2004-2005 competition year, and received a cash prize, trophies, and a certificate for dance apparel.

Joya dances at Rhythm Dance Center in Marietta where she has been a member of the Performing Company for eight years. Joya will also be going with the Performing Company to London in October. The company raised over $25,000 for Dancers Responding to AIDS, and earned an all expenses paid trip to London to perform at the Sadler’s Wells Theatre.