Beyond the Awards: Epic’s Real Win at Tremaine Dance Convention

There are moments in a dance season that feel big.

Tremaine Dance Convention & Competition is one of them.

Yes—there were awards. Beautiful, shiny, well-earned awards. The kind that represent hours of Saturday morning rehearsals, sore muscles, and a specific brand of determination that builds strong dancers.

And yes, we’re incredibly proud.

Our dancers brought home:

• 🏆 1st Place – Tap Trio

• 🏆 1st Place – Senior Company Contemporary

• 🏆 1st Place & Overall High Score – Hip Hop Production

• 🏆 2nd Place – Hip Hop Small Group

• 🏆 1st Place – Senior Company Open

• ✨ 3 Scholarship Awards – Maria Pachano, Zech Johnston & Joceline Cervantes

What’s more, Epic Dance Studios was awarded the “Shining Star Award.”

(We’ll come back to that one… because that’s the story.)

The Day Behind the Stage

Tremaine mornings start the way dance conventions do—early, slightly chaotic, and

fueled by adrenaline and questionable breakfast choices.

At 7:30 am, our dancers jumped into a day of classes - jazz, ballet, hip hop, and musical theater. They learned. They stretched. They auditioned for scholarships over their lunch hour.

Then came that strange little pocket of time dancers get before competition—just enough time to refuel and rest, but not quite enough to feel rested.

And then… showtime.

Our dancers competed both Friday and Saturday nights. On Saturday, all thirty-nine dancers took the stage for our production piece - Hip Hop Ya Don't Stop.

It was an amazing performance! The moment they’ve been building toward since August.

And supporting all of it— sometimes cheering, sometimes quietly, but constantly—were our Epic parents.

The ones who traveled the miles, packed the bags, and made sure dancers were where they needed to be.The ones who coordinated group lunches, when no one had time to think about food.The ones who organized pizza parties, creating community and support in the middle of long, exhausting days.

Parents are the steady hands behind the scenes—the ones who make it possible for dancers to focus, breathe, and step on stage ready.

What You Didn’t See on Stage

There were dancers on that stage who, just a month ago, quietly offered to step out—convinced they weren’t ready, that they might hold the team back.

They didn’t step out.  They stayed. They worked. They pushed through self-doubt.

And then… they nailed it.

There were dancers who auditioned for scholarships at Tremaine, were cut, and then given another chance to step back onto the floor.

They could have sat it out - licked their wounds.

Instead, they went back out—no tears, no drama—and did beautiful work.

There were dancers battling fatigue. Sore bodies. Physical challenges.

They pressed forward and discovered they were capable of more than they thought.

And our company dancers - encouraged and guided our younger apprentices with such joy.

The Part That Matters Most

The Shining Star Award is given to one studio.

It’s not about scores. It’s not about technique. It’s not about costumes or choreography.

It’s about who you are when no one is watching.

Backstage. In class. In the hallways. In the in-between moments.

It recognizes professionalism. Kindness. Respect.

And this year—it recognized Epic.

What Makes an Epic Dancer

At Epic, we say it all the time:We are raising Kind Humans first. Dancers second.

This was evident at Tremaine - where our dancers exhibited more than talent. They demonstrated:

Courage—the kind it takes to try again after disappointment.

Persistence—the kind that keeps you going when it would be easier to step back.

Resilience—the kind that shows up tired, sore, and unsure… and dances anyway.

Kindness—the kind that looks around and says, “I’ve got you.”

So Yes… We’re Proud

We are proud of the awards.We are proud of the growth.We are proud of the long hours and the courage it takes to step on stage.

But more than anything—

We are proud of who these dancers are becoming.

Because this—is what makes Epic dancers… Epic.