Intensity Dancer's Studio is celebrating the achievements of students Jeanelle Gomez, who was selected as one of 24 dancers to join the Miami Heat Dancers team for the 2013-2014 season, and Kandis Terry and Katie Camero, who completed an intensive program with the Rockettes, a New York based dance group.
Gomez, daughter of Miami Lakes residents Teresita and Jose Gomez, was selected out of over 500 dancers who auditioned for a spot on the team. Heat Dancers director Natalia Gomez (no relation) led the week-long audition sessions at the American Airlines Arena which began judging on choreography with cuts through three rounds.
After round 3, qualifying dancers entered the Heat Dance Boot Camp which begins with a 12 hour dance day that goes beyond dancing to include basketball drills and exercises. After the boot camp the remaining 58 dancers danced to a full house at the Miami-Dade County auditorium. Only 24 dancers made the cut.
"I feel like all those years of dancing has finally paid off. This accomplishment made all the training, sweat and tears I've endured, worth it," said Gomez.
Gomez also had to compete with previous Heat Dancers who have to earn their position every season. At only 18, Gomez is fresh out of Mater Lakes Academy, where she attended high school and is currently attending FIU for her major in Political Science.
Terry and Camero completed a week-long intensive dance program with the Radio City Rockettes.
The Rockettes are a precision dance group that has made its home at Radio City Music Hall in New York City since 1932, and perform over 200 shows during the Christmas season at the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the NBC Rockefeller Center Christmas show.They are known for their eye-level high-kicks done in perfect unison, usually at the closing of a performance.
Rockette hopefuls must show proficiency in many different styles of dance including ballet, tap, modern, and jazz.
Terry and Camero are both 16 and attend New World School of the Arts. They have been Intensity Dancer's Studio students since the age of 7. This is the second consecutive year they have been selected for the program.
They plan to move to New York City following graduation for college, and to pursue their dreams of being Rockettes.