The Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts (TCFA) dance program returned home from the May 2026 StarQuest Regional Competition in Syracuse with an impressive collection of awards, special recognitions, and a renewed sense of pride in the dedication and growth of its young performers.
For many dancers, this year’s competition presented unique challenges. Some performers competed against fields of more than two dozen dancers, several entered the highly competitive Teen division for the first time, and others stepped onto a competition stage for the very first time. Despite those hurdles, TCFA dancers delivered standout performances across every category.
“I’m very proud of all of our dancers”, said Dance Director Samantha “Miss Sam” Johnson. “They really committed, showed up, and showed out. I’m beaming for all of them and how well they persevered!”
TCFA soloists earned recognition throughout the weekend. Ruby Feenan received a Platinum Plus award, second overall placement, and Top Score in the Contemporary category. Makenzie White earned a Platinum Plus award, third overall placement, and was named Senior Titlist Winner. Zafira Ferrari received a Platinum Plus award, second overall placement, along with a special award for “Phenomenal Focus”. Kimberly Fang and Raelynn Hyer both earned Platinum honors and placed among the competition’s top overall soloists.
The studio’s group performances were equally impressive. The Elite Team’s contemporary routine “Paint It Black” captured a Platinum Plus award, first overall placement, a Costume Award, the Odyssey Award, and Top Score in the Contemporary category. The Elite Team’s jazz performance earned Platinum Plus recognition and third overall placement.
One of the weekend’s highlights came from TCFA’s musical theatre production of “Mama I’m a Big Girl”, featuring dancers from the Junior I, Junior II, and Elite teams.
The routine earned first overall placement, Top Score in the Musical Theatre category, and a special judges’ award for “Super Staging”.
Additional honors included a fifth overall placement for the Junior II contemporary team and strong performances from the Junior I and Junior II dancers throughout the weekend.
Perhaps most notably, TCFA was awarded the competition’s Studio Award for “Well Rounded in Multiple Genres,” recognizing excellence across a diverse range of dance styles.
While trophies and rankings marked a successful weekend, the competition also showcased the hard work, resilience, and artistic growth of TCFA’s dancers. From first- time competitors to veteran performers, each dancer contributed to a memorable weekend that reflected the spirit and strength of the Trumansburg dance community.
