Our 2008 National Finals Gala was held on July 10, 2008, during our National Finals Convention at the Renaissance Orlando Resort in Orlando, FL.
During this formal event, the amazing dinner was immediately followed by a spectacular show highlighted by the
Entertainer of the Year Award
being presented to
Grammy winning recording artist
& "American Idol" Judge
In addition, we awarded one
2008 Outstanding Contribution To Dance Award
to "So You Think You Can Dance" Winner
& Three-time US Open Swing Dance Champion
Benji Schwimmer
and another
2008 Outstanding Contribution To Dance Award
to "So You Think You Can Dance" Finalist
& Six-time US Open Swing Dance Champion
Heidi Groskreutz
Ms. Abdul, Mr. Schwimmer and Ms. Groskreutz watched Gala performances by each of the top nine National Finalists and decided who they thought best deserved to take home the
Tremaine Performance of the Year Award
(See below)
Other featured awards included the
2008-09 Tremaine Teacher of the Year Award
being presented, for the first time ever, to a couple
In The Spotlight
Waldwick, NJ
and the announcement of the
2008-09 Tremaine Dancer of the Year title winners
Sr. Female - Meg Earley Sr. Male - Trey Green, Teen Female - Raven Poole,
Teen Male - Michael Pesko, Jr. Female - Madison Sautter and Jr. Male - Keegan Wong
-Click on their name to see their DOTY bios-
The National Finalists who performed in the Gala were:
NATIONAL HIGH SCORE WINNERS
Jr. NHS - "TAPS ALIVE" Dance Workshop, Suzanne Green, Arlington, TX
Tn. NHS - "EVERYBODY DANCE" Sheffield School of Dance, Celi Shinn, Mobile, AL
Sr. NHS - "B-LO THE FUNK" The Future Dance Center, Denise & Gino Vaccaro, Buffalo, NY
BEST TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE WINNERS
Jr. BTP - "HI DE HO" The Future Dance Center, Gino Vaccaro, Buffalo, NY
Tn. BTP - "OUR PRAYER" Jayde Howard's Dance Legacy, Jayde Howard, Bradenton, FL
Sr. BTP - "MECHANICS" Machita & Co., Inc., Machita Eyre & Katy Tate, West Baton Rouge, LA
BEST SHOWMANSHIP
Jr. BS - "BABY I'M A STAR" Beaufort Academy of Dance, Aleisia Ashlaw & Erin Demers, Beaufort, SC
Tn. BS - "MONEY" Machita & Co., Inc., Machita Eyre & Katy Tate, West Baton Rouge, LA
Sr. BS - "OH MY GOSH" University Performing Arts, Judi Freed-Siegfried, Oviedo, FL
TREMAINE 2008 PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
"EVERYBODY DANCE"
Sheffield School of Dance
Celi Shinn
Mobile, AL
pictured with EOTY Paula Abdul