The dancers at Bridget’s Dance Conservatory had a solid competition season this year in the “StarPower Talent Competition,” “Cathy Roe’s Ultimate Dance Competition” and “Midwest Starz Dance Competition,” and are moving on to compete in nationals June 19 and 20 for the “Midwest Starz Dance Competition,” which will be held in the Wisconsin Dells.

This will be the first time the dance conservatory’s owner and instructor Bridget Halvorson will take her dancers to a competition outside Minnesota. Twenty two local dancers will be competing.

Bridget’s Dance Conservatory provides instruction for many types of dance, including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, pointe and hip-hop, but only jazz routines will compete in nationals. Halvorson choreographed the dance to “Thriller,” which features 11 dancers ages 9-14, and Maggie Chidester choreographed “Funkytown,” which also features 11 dancers, ages 6-9.

Three different companies along with 11 solos, five duets and one trio competed this year in the statewide “Midwest Starz Dance Competition.” The Petite Company, ages 6-9, received three High-Gold awards as well as the “Most Entertaining” award for a dance to “Funkytown.”

The Junior Company, ages 9-14, danced to “Thriller” to win two Platinum awards and one High-Gold award. The Senior company, ages 13-18, won two High-Gold awards and one Platinum award for a jazz routine to “The Garden,” three High-Gold awards for a lyrical routine to “Be Be Your Love,” and two High-Gold awards, one Platinum award and the “Classy” award for a tap routine to “Puttin’ On the Ritz.”

All three groups received the highest score of the day for their age categories.

Although all of the above routines qualified for nationals, Halvorson said the group is only taking “Thriller” and “Funkytown.”

Halvorson is extremely proud of all her dancers and very excited to take the two routines to nationals.

“When the youth in our community are really doing something great and constructive with their lives, I think it’s awesome!” Halvorson stated.

“It’s something that needs to be awarded and noticed. The level of dance and artistic talent in this community is immense, and the people of Austin should be so proud.”

The final dance recital “Jukebox Dancing” and “Competition Showcase” is on Saturday, June 13 at 7 p.m. at the Austin High School Knowlton Auditorium.

It will showcase all of the award-winning routines as well as many other dances to some finger-snapping ‘50’s tunes.

Tickets are available at the door for $10 or in advance for $8 at Bridget’s newly renovated studio on 213 N. Main St. For more information about Bridget’s Dance Conservatory, call 434-4119.