For: Bridget’s Dance Conservatory, Petite Company

When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday

Where: Hy-Vee Gas, 1001 18th Ave. NW

Cost: $5

Nine girls, ages 6 to 11, are heading to Wisconsin Dells in mid-June, but it won’t be all fun and games — they’ll be dancing, too.

The girls are in the Petite Company at Bridget’s Dance Conservatory, 213 N. Main St. They were invited for the second year in a row to compete in the Midwest Starz National dance competition June 19 in the Dells.

The company is participating in a variety of fundraising events to afford the trip, which is $30 for each dancer, in addition to room and board.

The girls have already secured sponsorship from Apollo Liquor and Superette, said parent Lyna Tschann, and they will hold a car wash this weekend.

Next Tuesday, Harvest Buffet and Torge’s Live, 1701 Fourth St. NW, will give 10 percent of the day’s food sales to the dance company.

Maggie Chidester, an Austin High School sophomore, is the petite company’s coach.

“I’m very proud of them,” she said.
For: Bridget’s Dance Conservatory, Petite Company

When: Tuesday, June 8

Where: Harvest Buffet and Torge’s Live, 1701 Fourth St. NW

Details: 10 percent of food sales will be given to the dance company

The girls placed fourth out of 15 in April at a Midwest Starz dance competition, receiving a “High Gold Award.” The score earned them an invitation to June’s national competition.

Chidester, in her first year of coaching, brought them to nationals last year, too.

“This is not only a great accomplishment for us, but for her as well,” Tschann, who is also Chidester’s sister, said.

Bridget’s Dance Conservatory provides instruction for many types of dance, including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, pointe and hip-hop. There are three companies — a petite, junior and senior — for various age levels.

Last year, both petite and junior companies went to nationals; the petites earned second place.

The company will perform one jazz routine at the competition, called “Move This.”

They will also have time to visit a water park, Tschann said.

“We’ll enjoy the time that we’re there,” she added.

The girls in Bridget’s Dance Conservatory’s Petite Company are Johanna Shamp, Olivia Bernard, Victoria Ryg, Marissa Baker, Chloe Sheehan, Alex Jovaag, Hannah Bergene, Brooklyn Hansen and Salma Masood.

For more information about the conservatory, call 434-4119.