Competition Ballroom Team 1st Place

Upholds Their Reputation at Premier Event Staff report -- The Fallon Swing Competition Ballroom Team participated in the National Youth Team Showdance Championship (on Fri. March 22nd) and the Gem State Classic Youth Syllabus Competition (partner competition on Sat. March 23rd). Friday night the Fallon team competed in two dance styles, Swing (“Friend Like Me”) and Novelty (“Irish River Dance”) both choreographed by Joseph Sorensen. They won first place with both dances in their division. Sorensen began choreographing when he was on the Studio Competition Team in high school. The first number he choreographed was a Novelty medley and they won 2nd Place. During his senior year, Sorensen competed in a Cabaret number he choreographed, and also choreographed a waltz number for the team, “December” from “Anastasia," which they worked on the next fall and took to Gem State competition the next year where they won first place. Last year he choreographed the “Irish River Dance” which the team performed for the end-of-the-year Final Showcase and they worked on it this year to take to competition as well as the “Friend Like Me Dance” that he choreographed this past fall. Sorensen has also helped with other teams besides the competition team, last year choreographing the Pink Panther number for the Kidz team and collaborated with Loni Faught on “The Greatest Showman” dance for this year's Dancing With the Stars. The team is coached by Jef and Karen Horne, and Suzette Beneke. All teams are divided into Divsions 1-3, depending on the cumulative years of experience of the dancers on the team. Theya re then divided into small, regular or large, depending on the number of dancers on the team. The Fallon team as level two experience and the swing number has only five couples, so it is considered small. The novelty team has eight couples, and two extras so it is considered regular. Each year young dancers from all over the west gather for a weekend of intense but friendly competition. Teams of all levels from beginning to advanced enter routines of all styles. Over 1,000 dancers met in Idaho Falls, Idaho for the unique event. The main mission of the Gem State Classic is for all participants to have a positive experience. All photos credited to DeLacy Trinidad Team dances: Youth Swing - Division 2 Small - 1st, Youth Novelty - Division 2 - 1st Youth Newcomer Cha Cha: Samuel Sorensen & Ashley Sorensen - 5th Youth Bronze Cha Cha: Keith Mason & Melanie Plasse - 5th Youth Silver Cha Cha: Davis Benecke & Madison Blea - 5th Youth Bronze Waltz: Davis Benecke and Jordan Moon - 1st, Jefrey Horne and Madison Blea - 4th, Keith Mason and Sophie Behimer- 5th Youth Bronze Rhumba: Davis Benecke & Melanie Plasse - 4th Youth Bronze Quick Step: Jefrey Horne & Melanie Plasse - 1st, Davis Benecke & Iliana Hockenberry- Grimes - 2nd, Keith Mason & Abby Pike - 3rd, Andrew Kelsey & Madison Blea - 4th 2018-2019 Competition Team: Girls -- Sophia Behimer, Madison Blea, Ericka Heath, Iliana Hockenberry-Grimes, Jordan Moon, Abbey Pike, Melanie Plasse, Myrella Ramos, Ashley Sorensen, Meagan Trinidad Boys -- Davis Benecke, Matthew Catlin, Jefrey Horne, Andrew Kelsey, Keith Mason, Ben Polish, Samuel Sorensen, Matthew Sorensen   Support local, independent news – contribute to The Fallon Post, your non-profit (501c3) online news source for all things Fallon. Never miss the local news -- read more on The Fallon Post home page. Sign up to receive updates and the Friday File email notices.