Windham Dancers Take Home Gold and Silver

More than a dozen Windham dance students at the Londonderry Dance Academy participated in the annual American Academy of Ballet Performance Awards Sunday, Feb. 17 at the school on Buttrick Road in Londonderry.

Students were judged by AAB international judge Merle Sepel of Huntington Beach, Calif.

“The judge said the pieces the girls performed were superior,” said Barbara Mullen, owner and director of Londonderry Dance Academy. “That meant a lot. I’ve been a judge for AAB myself traveling around the U.S. and Japan.

Fifty-five students from Windham and surrounding towns performed at the event held at the dance studio for the past 18 years. 

Each dancer performed a variety of classical ballet work, including solos, which Sepel evaluated and awarded gold, silver or bronze medals.

Students in grade 1 and above participate in front of an audience of parents and friends. There are 12 progressive levels that classical ballet students can matriculate through, representing the attainment of specific skill sets and artistic maturity.

“The lower levels perform in groups, but the more advanced levels perform en pointe non-stop for 20 minutes,” Mullen said. 

One dancer, Danielle Fitzgerald, is a Windham High School senior. She completed her final Level 12 pre-professional requirements at the event Sunday, receiving "Gold with distinction", an honor rarely bestowed.  She performed “Don Quixote’s Kitri Variation.” 

Mullen said her students do not enter competitions at the academy. 

“I don’t want them competing with their friends,” she said. “Their prize is pride in their achievements.”

Mullen said during the AAB event, the dancer is competing with the system of levels.

“Also, they have a chance to perform for their parents,” she said. “The parents can see how quickly the dancers improve level by level. By Level 8, they are dancing en pointe and their performance is amazing.”