AIM ELITES COMPETITION TEAM
Keleigh Beaty, Janet Bennett, Grayson Bradburn, Avery Bridges, Reygan Burgess, Samantha Burgess, Kenzie Burton, Kaylee Carpenter, Nova Carter, Eleanor Clontz, Kiera Fagan, Zoie Gramarossa, Sasha Harrelson, Hayden Howard, Kadie Jenkins, Nora Langschwager, Ella Leophard, Tinsley McCartney-Baranowski, Rylee Messer, Emma Pederson, Olivia Pederson, Allison Rhyne, Havanah Roberts, Sadie Summerlin, Ava Tackett, Aubree Thornburg, Kendyl Thornburg, Lexie Thornburg, Lilly Tyler, Abby West
The AIM Elite dancers attended the Dance Makers Convention in March 2025. During this two-day intensive, the dancers learned technique and choreography from professional teachers around the U.S. Congratulations to Grayson Bradburn for receiving a Dance Makers scholarship to advance her dance education.
Additionally, the AIM Elites participated in the Dance Machine, Showstopper, and Empire Dance Competitions in 2025. They showcased numerous group and solo routines, earning judges’ choice awards and overall awards. (See below for details.)
Showstopper Competition on April 11 - 13, 2025
Lenoir, NC
Groups & Trios
Love Shack (jazz group) Platinum award, 5th overall in the mini performance division
Be Still (contemporary trio) Platinum award, 1st overall in the junior performance division
Wake Me Up (contemporary trio) Gold award, 8th overall in the junior advanced division
New Attitude (jazz group) Platinum award, 6th overall in the junior advanced division
Rain (jazz group) Platinum award, 5th overall in the junior advanced division
This Mountain (contemporary group) Platinum award, 4th overall in the junior advanced division
Nellyville (hip-hop group) Platinum award, 4th overall in the junior advanced division
Let It All Go (contemporary group) Platinum award, 3rd overall in the junior advanced division
What A Feeling (contemporary group) Platinum award, 8th overall in the teen advanced division
To the Rhythm (jazz group) Platinum award, 2nd overall in the teen advanced division
Give Me (contemporary group) Double Platinum award, 11th overall in the senior competitive division
I Wanna Know (jazz group) Double Platinum award, 10th overall in the senior competitive division
Breaking Dishes (hip-hop group) Double Platinum award, 9th overall in the senior competitive division
Come Together (jazz group) Double Platinum award, 5th overall in the senior competitive division
Helene (contemporary production) Double Platinum award, 3rd overall in the teen super group competitive division
Soloists
Amen (Keleigh Beaty) - Double Platinum award, 3rd in the category
Dance the Night (Avery Bridges) - Gold award, 3rd in the category
Blue (Reygan Burgess) - Platinum award, 1st in the category
Fabulous (Samantha Burgess) - Platinum award, 3rd in the category
Falling Apart (Kiera Fagan) - Platinum award, 4th in the category
I Can Feel It (Zoie Gramarossa) - Platinum award, 1st in the category & 4th overall divisional
Lose Control (Sasha Harrelson) - Platinum award, 5th in the category
Money, Money, Money (Hayden Howard) - Platinum award, 2nd in the category
Over the Rainbow (Kadie Jenkins) - Gold award, 3rd in the category
Black Car (Nora Langschwager) - Double Platinum award, 4th in the category
Hometown Glory (Ella Leophard) - Double Platinum award, 4th in the category
Sun To Me (Rylee Messer) - Platinum award, 3rd in the category & 7th overall divisional
I Will Survive (Emma Pederson) - Platinum award, 4th in the category
Labels or Love (Allison Rhyne) - Gold award, 5th in the category
Rescue (Havanah Roberts) - Gold award, 2nd in the category
Before You Leave (Sadie Summerlin) - Platinum award, 4th in the category
Can’t Catch Me Now (Aubree Thornburg) - Platinum award, 2nd in the category
Lost (Kendyl Thornburg) - Platinum award, 4th in the category & 7th overall divisional
Paint It Black (Lilly Tyler) - Platinum award, 2nd in the category
Empire Dance Competition on May 2 - 4, 2025
Kannapolis, NC
Groups & Trios
Love Shack (jazz group) Platinum award, Personality award, 2nd overall
New Attitude (jazz group) High Gold award
This Mountain (contemporary group) Platinum award, 5th overall
Be Still (contemporary trio) Platinum award, 4th overall
Wake Me Up (contemporary trio) Platinum award
Rain (jazz group) Platinum award, Props award, 3rd overall
Let It All Go (contemporary group) Platinum award, 4th overall
Nellyville (hip-hop group) Platinum award
What A Feeling (contemporary group) High Gold award
To the Rhythm (jazz group) Platinum award, 2nd overall
I Wanna Know (jazz group) Platinum award
Give Me (contemporary group) Platinum award, 3rd overall
Breaking Dishes (hip-hop group) Platinum award, 1st overall
Come Together (jazz group) Platinum award, Fabulous Four award
Helene (contemporary production) Platinum Elite award, Empowerment award, 1st overall
Soloists
Amen (Keleigh Beaty) - Platinum award, Empire Allstar, Artistry award
Dance the Night (Avery Bridges) - Platinum award
Blue (Reygan Burgess) - Platinum award
Fabulous (Samantha Burgess) - High Gold award
Falling Apart (Kiera Fagan) - High Gold award
I Can Feel It (Zoie Gramarossa) - Platinum award, Empire Allstar, Personality award
Lose Control (Sasha Harrelson) - High Gold award
Money, Money, Money (Hayden Howard) - Platinum award, Props award, 5th overall
Over the Rainbow (Kadie Jenkins) - Platinum award
Black Car (Nora Langschwager) - Platinum award, Empire Allstar
Hometown Glory (Ella Leophard) - High Gold award
Sun To Me (Rylee Messer) - Platinum award, Empire Allstar, 9th overall
I Will Survive (Emma Pederson) - Platinum award
Labels or Love (Allison Rhyne) - High Gold award
Rescue (Havanah Roberts) - High Gold award
Before You Leave (Sadie Summerlin) - Platinum award
Can’t Catch Me Now (Aubree Thornburg) - Platinum award
Lost (Kendyl Thornburg) - Platinum award, Empire Allstar
Paint It Black (Lilly Tyler) - High Gold award
Our competitive team, AIM Elites, holds optional tryouts annually in September.
Competition practices are held every Saturday, and every member must attend. The practice and dance timings will be determined based on the auditions.
Competition members must take at least three classes, two of which must be ballet & jazz.
In addition to the regular tuition fee, an additional payment of $55 per month is required, which is separate from competition entry, convention, or costume fees.
Every year, the AIM Elites attend two spring competitions and one dance convention. The dates for these events will be announced during the fall 2024 parent meeting. Attendance at both competitions and convention is mandatory.
Congratulations to the 2023-2024 AIM Elites
The AIM Elites attended the Radix Convention in March 2024. During this two-day convention, the dancers learned technique and choreography from professional teachers from around the U.S.
Additionally, the AIM Elites attended Applause Talent & Dance Machine Competitions in April 2024. They performed many group and solo routines, receiving judges' choice awards, overall awards, a choreography award, a studio spirit award, and a 1st place grand champion award.
