Oxford student caps high school career with sixth regional dance title
OXFORD – Oxford Academy senior Robin Wonka captured her sixth regional Dancer of the Year title in the American Dance Awards regional competition held in Binghamton May 8-10.
The award caps an extensive resume of dance and performance accomplishments that began when Wonka was just 3 years old and took her first lesson with the Amber Perkins School of the Arts in Norwich.
“She’s by far the most naturally-gifted dancer I’ve ever had the privilege to teach and has been an inspiration to younger dancers who have, themselves, come up through the school,” said Perkins, whose studio opened in 1994. Wonka was Perkin’s first student.
The 18-year old successfully auditioned for and was selected to study dance at the State University of New York in Brockport in the fall. Her dreams are to dance with a modern dance company.
“Perfection would be having Amber Perkins as the artistic director!” she said. “Beyond that, I envision teaching at the college level, collaborating with other artists and inspiring young talent.”
In this past weekend’s competition, Wonka received ultimate gold medals for her solos “Wild Is The Wind,” choreographed by Travis St. Denny, and “Cinema Paradiso,” choreographed by Perkins. Her two solos won first and second place, respectively, in the 18-year and over age category and earned Wonka enough points to win the American Dance Awards Regional Title trophy, prized jacket and an invitation to compete in the national championships in July.
The ADA is known as the industry’s leading dance competition company. In the 2006 ADA national competition, Wonka was named America’s Teen Dancer of the Year 4th Runner Up. She won her first regional title in 1992 and went on to win several more in Binghamton, Massachusetts and Connecticut.
She has also danced in many award winning duos, trios, small and large group class and extended production pieces. In 2008, her large group adagio piece,” Conference of the Birds,” was the overall winner at CanDance National’s competition and she took first place along with partner, Travis St. Denny for “Divinity.”
Wonka has also achieved acclaim as a teacher and choreographer and has been featured in articles in Dance Life Studio magazine.
Liz and John Wonka of Oxford say their daughter has been dancing on her toes since birth.
“Robin begged to dance at the age of three. When she was five, she told me, ‘I live to dance!’ and she has felt that way ever since,” said her mother.
Wonka has studied modern, ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap, partnering, improvisation, acrobatics and contemporary dance with Perkins and ballet and pointe with the Donna Decker/Irene Fokine School of Russian Ballet in Norwich and Oneonta.
In addition to wowing local audiences at recitals held at the Norwich High School each June, she has performed in the New York Feet Dance Festival in Augsburg, Germany; the Bavarian State Ballet in Munich, Germany; was a special guest performer at CanDance Convention in Toronto, Canada; and is currently a principal dancer with Perkins’ Phoenix Project Danse Theatre.
Wonka also has had extensive vocal, acting and comedy training and was in Oxford Academy’s chorus in the musicals, “Kiss Me Kate” and “Hello Dolly” and played the starring role in the Chenango Community Players’ production of “Annie” in 2002.
The award caps an extensive resume of dance and performance accomplishments that began when Wonka was just 3 years old and took her first lesson with the Amber Perkins School of the Arts in Norwich.
“She’s by far the most naturally-gifted dancer I’ve ever had the privilege to teach and has been an inspiration to younger dancers who have, themselves, come up through the school,” said Perkins, whose studio opened in 1994. Wonka was Perkin’s first student.
The 18-year old successfully auditioned for and was selected to study dance at the State University of New York in Brockport in the fall. Her dreams are to dance with a modern dance company.
“Perfection would be having Amber Perkins as the artistic director!” she said. “Beyond that, I envision teaching at the college level, collaborating with other artists and inspiring young talent.”
In this past weekend’s competition, Wonka received ultimate gold medals for her solos “Wild Is The Wind,” choreographed by Travis St. Denny, and “Cinema Paradiso,” choreographed by Perkins. Her two solos won first and second place, respectively, in the 18-year and over age category and earned Wonka enough points to win the American Dance Awards Regional Title trophy, prized jacket and an invitation to compete in the national championships in July.
The ADA is known as the industry’s leading dance competition company. In the 2006 ADA national competition, Wonka was named America’s Teen Dancer of the Year 4th Runner Up. She won her first regional title in 1992 and went on to win several more in Binghamton, Massachusetts and Connecticut.
She has also danced in many award winning duos, trios, small and large group class and extended production pieces. In 2008, her large group adagio piece,” Conference of the Birds,” was the overall winner at CanDance National’s competition and she took first place along with partner, Travis St. Denny for “Divinity.”
Wonka has also achieved acclaim as a teacher and choreographer and has been featured in articles in Dance Life Studio magazine.
Liz and John Wonka of Oxford say their daughter has been dancing on her toes since birth.
“Robin begged to dance at the age of three. When she was five, she told me, ‘I live to dance!’ and she has felt that way ever since,” said her mother.
Wonka has studied modern, ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap, partnering, improvisation, acrobatics and contemporary dance with Perkins and ballet and pointe with the Donna Decker/Irene Fokine School of Russian Ballet in Norwich and Oneonta.
In addition to wowing local audiences at recitals held at the Norwich High School each June, she has performed in the New York Feet Dance Festival in Augsburg, Germany; the Bavarian State Ballet in Munich, Germany; was a special guest performer at CanDance Convention in Toronto, Canada; and is currently a principal dancer with Perkins’ Phoenix Project Danse Theatre.
Wonka also has had extensive vocal, acting and comedy training and was in Oxford Academy’s chorus in the musicals, “Kiss Me Kate” and “Hello Dolly” and played the starring role in the Chenango Community Players’ production of “Annie” in 2002.
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