Twelve dancers from Artistry in Motion, the in-house dance company of the Des Plaines Park District, took home top honors at the 2012 DanceAmerica National Finals held in Orlando, Florida, July 3-6. Twenty-four studios performed six hundred and thirteen dances, competing for individual and group awards during the four days. Artistry in Motion performed seventeen dances and received seven first, two second, one third and two fourth place awards.

Of special note, Meghan Hanrahan was awarded the prestigious Dancer of the Year for the Junior division, ages 12-15, of the 80 dancers competing, and earned a $750 scholarship. Jordin Suwalski was named third runner up in the Dancer of the Year Petite Division, ages 7-11 and earned a scholarship for a one-day Dance Olympus Workshop during the 2012-13 season. Mathew Skorupski, was named second runner up for Male Junior Dancer of the Year, and Kim Diebold finished within the top 13 for Dancer of the Year in the Junior Division.

For more information about Artistry in Motion and the Des Plaines School of Dance call 847-391-5711 or visit www.DPParks.org