Saint Andrew’s Dancers Rise to the Top at Future Stars Finals

The Saint Andrew’s School Dance Company recently proved they are among the top tier of performers in the region, bringing home major honors from South Florida’s most prestigious stage. Competing at the Future Stars Performing Arts Competition at The Countess de Hoernle Theatre on Saturday, March 28, the dancers stood out in a field of "the best of the best," representing the very high caliber of the Saint Andrew’s performing arts program.

The journey to the finals began in January, when the Company auditioned two pieces: the soulful "Imagine" and the high-energy "All That Jazz." Both pieces were accepted into the final round, an achievement in itself. Director of Dance Katie Petronio noted that even before the awards were announced, she was incredibly proud of the group just for making the cut. "The competition was against performers of an extremely high caliber," she stated. "All of the dancers were already winners as we had to compete just to make the finals."

The Scots certainly held their own on Saturday night. The Dance Company took home 2nd Place for "All That Jazz" and 3rd Place for "Imagine." In the solo categories, seven of the dancers performed original choreography they developed under Ms. Petronio’s guidance. Anya Kirby ’27 stood out in the Premier Stars (Advanced Dance) category, earning 2nd Place for her solo, "Chasing Pavements."

The following students represented Saint Andrew’s on stage:

• Hannah Anglemyer ’26
• Isabela Bellini ’27
• Analeigh Caseram ’28
• Sofia Defossey ’29
• Sophia Dulski ’29
• Luciana Espinoza ’26
• Darcy Feder ’28
• Lea Franiuk ’26
• Hailey Friedman ’30
• Iris Hua ’27
• Anya Kirby ’27
• Aya Mahmood ’28
• Daniel Meza ’27
• Izzy Shapiro ’27
• Mia Song ’27
• Francesca Speziale ’30
• Carrie Xiong ’27
• Yulia Yan ’29

The results from Saturday night represent more than just a successful competition; they showcase the strength of the arts at Saint Andrew’s. By securing multiple top-three finishes, these dancers have cemented their place among the region's top performers.