Competition dance team in China Grove, NC
National champions, back-to-back Groove Award winners and a 2026 Industry Dance Award, all from a hometown studio in Rowan County.
2026 Industry Dance Awards · Hollywood
Best Outstanding Lyrical / Modern / Contemporary Performance
National industry recognition for a Center Stage routine, choreographed by one of our own alumni, in the studio's 45th year. The winner was chosen by public vote.
Awards
A winning tradition
Center Stage dancers compete at regional and national events across the Southeast. Some highlights:
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2026
Industry Dance Award winner
Best Outstanding Lyrical/Modern/Contemporary Performance, chosen by public vote and presented in Hollywood.
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2023
Groove Award, again
Top honor at Groove Nationals in Myrtle Beach with 1,477 of 1,500 points, plus a lobby full of 2023 trophies.
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2022
Groove Award
Top honor at Groove Nationals with 1,463.2 of 1,500 points, the highest-scoring 12-and-under and 13-and-over lines, Junior Dancer of the Year and several Groove Perfection awards.
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2013
Overall national champions
Crowned overall national champions at Encore in Savannah with a production number featuring every competition dancer.
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2012
State and national titles
About 80 competition dancers traveled to Encore Nationals holding North Carolina state titles and national titles.
This season on stage
Every style. Full out.
Jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, production numbers, duets and trios. Tap any photo to see it bigger.
Joining the team
Could your dancer compete?
- Taught by champions. Our instructors include award-winning choreographers and former Center Stage competitors who went on to dance in college.
- Every style. Jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, production numbers, solos, duets and trios.
- Boys and girls. Boys dance on our competition team too.
- Their own night. Each June the competition team performs its own show at the Kannapolis Performing Arts Center.
- Character first. Our motto says it: take pride, stay humble, go full out.
Ask about the competition team
Tell us your dancer's age and experience, and we'll text you what the team looks like for them:
- How dancers join the team
- Practice schedule and commitment
- Costs, costumes and competition travel
Our instructors
Award-winning instructors
Award-winning choreographers who have performed and competed at the highest levels, and most of them grew up dancing here.
Sydney Overcash
Artistic Director · Center Stage alum
Has performed from Madison Square Garden to Europe and Australia. Her competition numbers often place in the top five, with choreography and entertainment awards and Industry Dance Awards nominations.
Jonathan Matthews
Instructor
More than 100 competition trophies and the Mr. Starpower solo title. Teaches hip hop, lyrical, jazz and gymnastics, and runs backstage at competitions.
Liza Eller
Instructor · Center Stage alum
Competed at Center Stage for 12 years before earning a BFA in dance from East Carolina. Award-winning choreography and Industry Dance Awards nominations.
Our parents compete too, for China Grove
Center Stage parents won the Parent Dance Battle at Groove Nationals two years running and gave every dollar of the prize money to the same China Grove nonprofit.
Where they go next
From our stage to college teams
Center Stage dancers have gone on to dance for college teams across North Carolina, and several came home to coach the next generation.
- NC State
- Appalachian State
- East Carolina
- High Point University
This fall, three Center Stage alumni are dancing on the High Point University dance team.
The Competition Show
See the whole team perform at the Kannapolis Performing Arts Center during our End-of-Year Recital weekend.