By Staff
special to The Star
Aug. 3, 2003
Dance students from Suzie McCraw School of Dance in Meridian recently won top awards at several dance competitions.
McCraw's students include both competition and exhibition groups entertaining at numerous local events around the surrounding area.
McCraw's Senior Dance Troupe, consisting of 10 members, performed lyrical and jazz routines at two competitions and were awarded two gold awards, one high silver award and one silver award.
The Teen Dance Troupe, with 10 members, performed lyrical and jazz routines at three competitions and were awarded two gold awards, two silver awards and two second place awards. Their lyrical performance was awarded a Most Prestigious Smile award and troupe member Sarah Fair was awarded a jazz scholarship from Dance Educators of America National Convention.
The Junior Dance Troupe, consisting of nine members, competed in lyrical and jazz at three competitions. They were awarded two gold awards, two first place awards, a high silver award and a silver award. Their lyrical performance was also awarded a Purity of Dance award. Junior Troupe member Mackenzie Ortlepp was awarded the Promising Dancer award.
The Suzy Q Cloggers, with nine members, competed at two competitions and were awarded two gold awards.
Tiffany Bracken and Krista Swink preformed a jazz duet at two competitions. They received a gold award, a first place overall award and a high score award.
Courtney Fitzgerald performed a lyrical routine and was received two gold awards.
Holly Butler performed a clogging routine and was awarded a high gold award, second place overall and a silver award. She was also second alternate for Lauderdale County's Junior Miss and won the talent award.
Tiffany Bracken, a dance assistant at Suzie McCraw School of Dance and current dance major at the University of Southern Mississippi, performed a lyrical solo at three competitions and was awarded a high gold award, second place overall, first place award, a gold award and a first place overall award.
McCraw, a director and choreographer, has a bachelor's degree in dance from USM and is a member of Dance Educators of America. She has been teaching in Meridian since 1982.