+ Dancing to the Stars
The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota twinkled with twirling and twisting sparkly, feather and ruffle-clad dancers last week during the Florida State DanceSport Championships organized by Lakewood Ranch residents Larry and Dianne Dean. But one local studio had a particularly starry night: Empire Ballroom Studios took home five Florida State Top Awards. The local studio took home the Triple Crown Top Local Studio and Triple Crown Top Small Studio. Owner Sid Pocius placed second in the Triple Crown Top Teacher, while two of his students also took home top awards — Susan Jones, Triple Crown Top Silver Student, and Brittony Swalm, Triple Crown Top Junior Student. Stay tuned for more of Pocius’ award-winning dancers and dancing, because he organizes his own ballroom competition, the Sarasota Challenge, which will take place March 23 to 24, at the Hyatt Sarasota.

+ Pied piper gone pipe-less
Area woodwind musician Dr. Richard W. Burton is having A-major problem;and it’s not with the musical key. A thief stole his flute from the front porch of his home while he was preparing for a performance. It’s a Jupiter 25th anniversary edition, open-hole flute with a B-foot. The trill keys are taped, blue electrical tape is on the foot joint and black electrical tape is on the low B key. If it isn’t found, his world will B-flat, so if you should see something, please email mgnaegy@yourobserver.com.

+ In good company
Sarasota Ballet student Kayleigh Likens made headlines when she danced her way to the Youth America Grand Prix in April in New York. The 16-year-old dancer participated in this year’s American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive, a tough curriculum taught by renowned teachers. The young ballerina has garnered herself another headline-worthy accomplishment: Likens was accepted as a member of American Ballet Theatre’s Studio Company, a classical company of dancers, ages 16 to 20, hand-picked from around the world.

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