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Angelo Moio
Angelo Moio is a professional choreographer and teacher based in Las Vegas, NV. As a performer, he danced back-up for such stars as Juliet Prowse, Ann-Margret, and Gloria Gaynor, worked as a dancer and line captain for the Siegfried and Roy Show at the Mirage Hotel, and served as dance captain and assistant choreographer for "Legends in Concert" on Broadway at the Academy Theater and in Las Vegas at the Imperial Palace. This year he is assistant choreographer for "A Chorus Line" at La Mirada Theater for the Performing Arts in Southern California. Currently teaching all levels of jazz dance at Backstage Dance Studio in Las Vegas, he also guest teaches all over the country for many national dance organizations, universities, and private studios. He is a guest artist on a number of Cathy Roe's instructional dance videos and also a contributing writer to both Dance Spirit and Dance Teacher magazines.
Cathy: What do you look for when you judge a competition?
Angelo: I look for correct technique, confidence, and performance quality. I don't care about tricks. I don't care about multiple turns. I want to see a well-rehearsed, polished routine.
Cathy: Any dislikes?
Angelo: I hate fouette turns in a jazz, tap, or hip-hop routine. They belong in a ballet routine. I especially hate them when 5 dancers are doing them together but only 1 can really execute them correctly and the remaining 4 are falling or hopping out of them. Leave them out and the routine will score higher.
Cathy: What does it take to win a first place?
Angelo: I give high scores to routines in which the dancers exude confidence and self-assuredness, execute the choreography in a clean, technically correct manner, and perform with expression and energy befitting the routine. I love to see dancers who look like they love dancing. I love seeing the joy on their faces as they perform. I need to know there is somebody in there...not just a body moving through space.
Cathy: Any tips for first timers?
Angelo: The best advice I could give a first time contestant would be to enjoy the experience. Don't go in with huge expectations. Rehearse your routine so that you know it inside out and that way you can get up on stage and enjoy the experience and not be worrying about what comes next. Rehearse your expression as well as your steps. Remember, performance doesn't just magically happen - it evolves and grows and needs to be rehearsed.
Lyn Cramer
Lyn Cramer, a teacher and choreographer for more than 29 years, is an Associate Professor for the Weitzenhoffer Department of Musical Theatre at The University of Oklahoma. She teaches jazz, tap, and musical theatre styles and is their resident director and choreographer. Lyn has her masters degree in directing and is a member of Actors' Equity Association and The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. Her professional credits include acting, directing and choreographing over 70 musicals in her career including Cabaret, Nine, 42nd St., Once On This Island, A Chorus Line, Showboat, and Smokey Joe's Cafe. Lyn will return in December for the second time as an external examiner and master teacher for The Hong Kong Academy of the Performing Arts in musical theatre. She has published a tap curriculum for readers of Dance Teacher magazine and has recently written the jazz pedagogy guide for Texas Association Teachers of Dancing. Her students are employed all over the world as entertainers from Broadway, Las Vegas and Disney to cruise ships, theme parks, rock tours, and Tap Dogs. For over fifteen years, Lyn has been a master teacher in jazz and tap and judged for organizations, schools and competitions nationwide.
Cathy: What do you look for when you judge?
Lyn: I look for "preparation". I not only want to see good technique and great style, but a real performance by on a well rehearsed dancer who can turn it on for the audience with confidence only preparation can deliver.
Cathy: What do you love to see?
Lyn: I love to see dancers who genuinely support one another. There is room for everyone to be successful. I like to see dancers from the same school as well as competing schools acknowledge the talent of other dancers by applauding for each other and wishing each other good luck.
Cathy: What do you dislike?
Lyn: What really concerns me is the growing apathy I see at the awards ceremonies when dancers react with lackluster joy and excitement when they receive any award other than first place. That really speaks to me concerning their values. Every award given has merit and every competitor is a winner.
Cathy: What does it take to win the choreography award?
Lyn: Originality and impeccable staging!! Admittedly, it also takes well rehearsed dancers that deliver a committed performance. The emotional impact and purpose is crucial.
Cathy: What does it take for first place?
Lyn: I will list the elements that I expect to be evident: Great music, appropriate costumes for every single dancer in the piece, strong technique, clean movement, solid performance with connection with the audience regardless of intent (i.e. fun, serious, poignant, etc.).
Cathy: Special tips for first timers?
Lyn: Compete only with yourself or your group. Resist the urge to compare yourself with others competing in your category. There is room for everyone to be a success. Don't worry if you make a mistake during the piece. Judges do not expect perfection, ever. Connect with the audience and they won't care about your error, they may not even see it!! The audience is your best support when you are out there. Share your performance with them.
Liz Reiter
Liz Reiter is currently the Director of Dance at St. Gregory's University in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Previously, she spent 6 years as a faculty member at Oklahoma City University. Her professional performance career includes being a principal dancer and rehearsal director for Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago; a principal dancer with alexander michaels/FUTURE MOVEMENT, which is now the Chicago Human Rhythm Project; and numerous industrials in the Chicagoland area for such companies as Kinney's Shoes/Lady Foot Locker and the Chicago Sports Profiles Magazine. She has been a cast member of numerous musicals throughout the Midwest, including those at Music Theater of Wichita. Besides teaching at the university level, Ms. Reiter is also in demand as a master teacher at dance conventions and camps around the country. She currently resides in Oklahoma City with her husband and their children.
Cathy: What do you look for when you judge a competition?
Liz: A group of dancers who genuinely love the art of dance and who are good people. I don't want to hear of any "nastiness" that has gone on backstage...
Cathy: What do you love to see?
Liz: I love to see dancers who love what they are doing, which is then evident in their technique and performance
Cathy: What do you dislike?
Liz: I absolutely despise age-inappropriate costumes and choreography!!!!!!! I don't like to see tricks in place of technique, and I don't like to see costumes that don't look good on the whole group.
Cathy: What does it take to win the choreography award?
Liz: Use of stage, formation changes, and dances choreographed according to the technique of the entire group, not just to the few who are placed in the front.
Cathy: What does it take to win a first place platinum award?
Liz: A spectacular package of technique, costume, performance, choreography, and an obvious love of the art coupled with being nice and helpful to others in the competition.
Cathy: Is there any special tip you would give to first time contestants?
Liz: Please have fun! Remember that competitions should be viewed as another opportunity to perform because that's what you love to do, right? Don't get caught up in "awards" but improve for yourself. And for everyone, remember to be good people. When you are a good person and nice to others, you will go a lot further in your life than that other person who might be on top for awhile but got there while being "nasty."
The saying is really true; 'What goes around comes around.'
Robin Kelly
Cathy: What do you look for when judging a competition?
Robin: Creativity and entertainment value with strong technique. Something I will remember...something that leaves me wanting more.
Cathy: What do you love to see?
Robin: Dancers who dance from the inside-out (whatever the venue). Dancers who are performing something they, themselves, can relate to and , in turn, relay it to an entire audience.
Cathy: What do you dislike?
Robin: Dancers who are given material they obviously are not ready to be presenting (whether it is technique or choreography that is not age appropriate). Dancers who are not prepared for the stage...costume problems, headpiece problems...etc. * problems that can be avoided.
Choreography that has nothing to do with the music being used.
Cathy: What does it take to win a choreography award?
Robin: Knowing how to present something that enhances the age and ability levels of the performers on stage and being able to capture the attention of the audience. Choreography has to be relevant to the era, feeling and content of the music being used. Unique patterns and creative movement that you don't see in other pieces...again, something memorable.
Cathy: What does it take to win a first place platinum award?
Robin: Technique, heart & soul, and something unique.
Cathy: Is there any special tip you would give to first time contestants?
Robin: If there is a competition with "levels", be sure to enter them in the correct level for their ability. You want the kids to feel challenged, but, at the same time, good about their individual performance. Go prepared...work out costume problems at home and polish routines fully. Stage make up is very important...a professional appearance is essential. Also, let the kids and the parents know that 2nd or 3rd place is still okay as long as they do their best. Be sure the kids know that this is supposed to be FUN and educational and that it is only a small part of the dance world. The real competition is in the class room and within themselves. If the dancers are having a good time, are prepared for the event and are learning, then it's a great thing!
Jade Crouch
Jade Crouch's credentials include television and film appearances in Forrest Gump, The Arsenio Hall Show, The Jerry Lewis Telethon, and a Doritos commercial. He has toured with such famous artists as Diana Ross ("Take Me Higher" world tour), Debbie Gibson (Asia and U.S. tour), Tommy Paige (U.S. promo tour), and with the Disney Symphonic U.S. tour. His stage appearances include The Flintstones Show in Universal Studios Hollywood and the Tribute to Whoopi Goldberg in Los Angeles. He has appeared in a number of music videos, including Prince's "Betcha", Howard Hewitt's "Save Your Sex for Me", Diana Ross' "Take Me Higher", John Secada's "Just Another Day", and Debbie Gibson's "Everything is Possible". He has also been a dancer and assistant choreographer for numerous Industrials such as Reebok, Asics, Starter, and Vans.
Cathy: What do you look for when you judge a competition?
Jade: I look at the age and level of the students to judge whether they are dancing to the best of their ability.
Cathy: What do you love to see?
Jade: I love to see something that moves me in either direction (happy, sad, up, down). Chills are good, and great music is always a plus.
Cathy: What do you dislike?
Jade: Like you said, fouette turns are always at the top of my list. I also dislike pieces that don't go anywhere physically and/or emotionally.
Cathy: What does it take to win the choreography award?
Jade: Cool choreography, originality, and interesting to watch. It's not all about the tricks.
Cathy: What does it take to win a first place platinum award?
Jade: Of course it should be clean and tight. The dancers should go beyond the call of duty. No holding back. The choreography must also be unique.
Cathy: Is there any special tip you would give to first time contestants?
Jade: Enjoy what you are doing every second on stage. Relax.
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