Community Corner

Acro Duo: Sisters From Cranberry Studio are National Dance Champions

Members of the Studio 19 Dance Complex, Lizzie and Angelina Hunkele win "Platinum" accolades at the Revolution National Dance Championships.

Duo Lizzie and Angelina Hunkele have danced and twirled their way to a national championship.

The Pine Township sisters, who are members of the Studio 19 Dance Complex in Cranberry, were winners at the Revolution National Dance Championships held in July at Virginia Beach.

At the competition, the sisters performed an acro routine called “Send in the Clowns” choreographed by dance teacher and Studio 19 co-owner Tammy Croftcheck-Tallerico.

“Their performance was breathtaking and exciting to watch,” said Mark Hunkele, the father of the girls. “It was their best performance this competition season.”

Find out what's happening in Cranberrywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Hunkele said Lizzie, who just turned 9, and Angelia, 7, received a “Platinum” score for the act, the highest recognition out of six scoring categories. The sisters were one of only three duos/trios to receive a platinum rating, Hunkele said.

“It was the second time in a row they received the prestigious highest rating, receiving a high score of five stars at Starpower in Niagara Falls,” Hunkele said.

Find out what's happening in Cranberrywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The girls also won their dance division and received a plague. In addition, they were overall first place winners in their 8 and under division for duos and trios.

The sisters also participated in a number of award-winning group dances with Studio 19 at the competition.

“What makes Studio 19’s performances so remarkable is the high level of competition from the other studios at nationals,” Hunkele said. “It was enjoyable watching many of the dances from other studios also. It is inspiring and fun to watch all of the dancers at Nationals who have worked so hard and put such great effort into dancing and competing."

The Revolution National Dance Championships isn’t the only place where Studio 19 is tearing up the competition.

Members of the dance studio appeared in June on NBC’s Americas Got Talent and earned rave reviews from celebrity judges Howie Mandel, Howard Stern, Heidi Klum and Mel B.

“You have every single quality and more to have your own show in Las Vegas,” Mel B told the dancers, who ranged in age from 11 to 18. 

The group, which received a standing ovation from the audience, is now qualified to move on to the next round of competition in Las Vegas.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here