Tiffany Franco, age 14, tap danced her way to first place in the Teen Solo category, at the Starbound National Talent Competition, in Atlantic City, N. J., this past July, despite suffering a dislocated shoulder when another dancer fell into her during a routine.
Starbound, the largest dance competition in America, organizes regional and national dance competitions all over the country, according to their Web site, Starbound.net. Winners in this year’s regionals in Phoenix, Tiffany, and her fellow student at Campbell’s Dance Studio in Mesa, Scout Rines, age 11, each won scholarships to the national event by placing in the top 10.
The weeklong national competition provided contestants with a full day of workshops led by professional dancers and choreographers. The participants then perfected new dance routines in daily rehearsals, which culminated in live Web-cast performances at week’s end. Both Tiffany and Scout were chosen to dance in the opening number.
It was during the second performance when another dancer accidentally flopped into Tiffany, and her shoulder dislocated, said her mother, Emily Kotara, who accompanied her daughter to the event. “Despite the pain, she finished the routine, and then came out again for the third performance because she felt it would have been too noticeable if her part was missing,” Emily said. “She was doing lifts at the beginning with two male dancers. She danced as long as she could, but the pain eventually made it impossible for her to continue. She’s really a trouper.”
Emily related how, when they went to the hospital to get Tiffany’s shoulder fixed, the wait in the ER proved very long. “Tiffany said to me, ‘Mom, I just feel like I have to pop it.’ So, I told her to go for it,” this mother said. “She lifted her leg around her arm, and relocated it herself. What an experience. Luckily, she made it through the whole week of wonderful dancing/performing, and the dislocated shoulder happened right at the end. Tiff and I joke and say, ‘What a way to end a fantastic week.’”
Tiffany performs all styles of dance, and loves it all, but tap is her specialty. “She had to do the same routine that won her the scholarship,” Emily said, “and it also won her the competition’s first place trophy.”
According to Emily, who teaches the 2- to-5-year-olds at Campbell’s Dance Studio, Tiffany began dancing when she was only 2, just as she, herself, did. “We live to dance, and Campbell’s is our rock.” Mother and daughter have been with the studio for more than a decade.
All wanted to thank Taani Farnsworth, Campbell’s tap teacher for both Scout and Tiffany. She’s taught Tiffany since she was 2, and has given them so much, and worked so hard with them. Scout also won an award for tap. She received a high gold.
A sophomore at Red Mountain High School, Tiffany is a member of the Dance Force and the school dance team, as well as performing with Campbell’s Dance Expressions troupe. Campbell’s is known for its stellar holiday performances, which are open to the community, including their annual Nutcracker Ballet.
Campbell’s Dance Studio, owned by Frances Campbell, has been teaching local children for more than 40 years in all forms of dance.
Classes currently are forming for the fall and winter.
For more information, visit www.campbellsdance.com, or call (480) 830-3450. The studio is located at 2820 E. University Drive, Suite 160.