Audra's excellent adventure to Disney World

[May 14, 2013]  Walk into Audra's Studio of Dance in downtown Lincoln and the energy and excitement in the young dancers is apparent. On June 17, owner and lead instructor Audra Turley is once again taking a troupe of her dancers to perform at Disney World.

This is the fifth time Turley has submitted an audition tape to Disney World and been accepted to have her students perform on stage in the theme park. This year 42 young dancers are going, the largest group yet.

Audra Turley, who has attained designation as a Master Graduate with the Dance Educators of America, pointed out that this will be a group showcasing all of the dance styles she teaches. "We are going to do clogging, jazz, ballet, contemporary and modern on the waterside stage in Downtown Disney," she said.

The dancers will be traveling with their parents. Turley's youngest dancer is 7. The group will travel on June 16 and stay at the Disney All-Star Music Resort on-site. The performance will be on June 17 at 4 p.m. Disney will send a private bus to the hotel to collect the group and take them to the venue.

The dancers have worked for a year on their routines with Turley and associate instructors Brande Montgomery and Kelsey Horn. They will do a one-time rehearsal on the stage of the Johnston Center at Lincoln College before their departure. In addition, Audra's students will have their annual recital at Lincoln Christian University the first weekend of June.

Turley likes to point out that "dance is a complete experience." She explains: "The dancer can express emotions through dance, as well as benefit from the sometimes strenuous movements."

Turley's students travel from all over central Illinois to her studio. "The girls get to meet students from other communities. There have been long-term friendships started during dance class," she said.

She did say that while the majority of her students are girls and young women, sometimes a guy will show up for class. Dancing can be a total workout.

Audra's Studio has had car washes, cheesecake sales and sold Avanti's sandwiches to raise money for the Florida adventure.

The dancers are selected carefully for the trip. The minimum age is 7, and the dancers must have danced for several years, but not just in the studio or recitals. There are also competition events. Turley's students have also been invited to attend the prestigious Dupree master classes in St. Louis.

For more information on the Florida trip to Disney World or general information about Audra's Studio of Dance, call 217-732-9137 or visit the Facebook page at Audra's Studio of Dance.

[By CURT FOX]