2024 Showcase of Stars
Judges

Ali grew up dancing at SCAU competition’s for the Hazel Park Dance Team’s. She started assistant coaching at a young age, and while in high school she coached the Hazel Park Hazelettes to a Grand Championship along side her fellow coach. Upon graduating high school she continued coaching and was even a cheer camp instructor with North American Spirit.  She was the vice president of her dance team at Oakland University where she was a sister of Gamma Phi Beta while studying Human Resources Development. 

As soon as she graduated college she went to Florida to participate in the Disney College Program. Her career then took her to the heart of Detroit where she is now employed with Ford Motor Company. The year 2022 was a big year as she welcomed a beautiful baby girl, and took her dance career full circle as she began judging for Showcase America Unlimited. 

Arabia Richardson is an Artist, Collaborator, Dancivist and Educator born and raised in Dayton, Ohio currently based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Arabia received a MFA in Dance in 2022 and graduated Cum Laude in 2019 with a BFA in Dance from The University of the Arts (UArts). Arabia has held the titles of Rehearsal Director for Juel D. Lane and Marguerite Hemmings, Rehearsal Assistant to Kim Bears-Bailey and Co-Choreographer with Wayne St. David. Currently Arabia is an Adjunct Professor at Temple University and UArts, as well as the MSP Coordinator at UArts. She recently received her first grant for Creative Research & Innovation. She is building a work based on familial histories, collective memory and nostalgia.

Dawn (Morris) Hostetler began her dance profession at New Tradition’s Dance Company in Mansfield, Ohio where she trained in Jazz, Hip Hop, Pom, and Kick styles while on their competitive dance team. She earned many State & National Championship Titles, served as the team Captain, and performed in a Florida Citrus Bowl halftime show.

Dawn collegiately competed while earning her Bachelor of Arts degree from The Ohio State University. She served as a team Member and team Captain of the Nationally Ranked Buckeye Dance Force, and competed at College Nationals with Universal Dance Association on ESPN.

For the past 25 years, Dawn has choreographed for dance teams and solo dancers throughout the United States for various State, Regional, and National Championships. She has also composed pieces for OSU basketball halftime shows, Showcase Camps & Productions, United Spirit Association, San Diego State University Dance Team, Boston University Cheer Squad, Morehead State University Dance Team, and the Florida Citrus Bowl halftime show.

Dawn has a strong background in Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary, and Cheerleading and has studied Ballet and Lyrical. She has attended various workshops and classes in Los Angeles, San Diego, and New York City. She has also attended many DanceLife Teacher Conventions to keep up with the newest dance trends. In addition, Dawn helped build a local dance company in Westerville, Ohio while serving as their co-director for 14 years.

Dawn continues to share her expertise as an adjudicator for various dance competitions, including Showcase America Unlimited and AmeriDance. She is currently serving on the Executive Board as the Secretary for Showcase America Unlimited.

She and her husband, Brandon, love spending time with their daughters – Summer and Star! Dawn has a strong passion for teaching and leading children in dance as well as guiding them through life’s journeys.

Karie Seubert has been involved in Showcase America Unlimited for over 40 years.  She started her dance journey taking classes in ballet, jazz, and tumbling, and tap. She performed on dance teams competing in the SCAU circuit all throughout her school years while competing at gymnastic events as well.

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She graduated from Bowling Green State University with an Early Childhood Education degree and performed on BGSU’s dance team throughout her college years.  She dedicated her free time during college to working at a local dance studio and choreographing musicals at multiple high schools in the BG area.

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After moving back to her hometown, she coached at her Alma Mater for 10 years.  She then retired from coaching to start her family with her husband Mike.  She and Mike have 2 boys, Cameron and Jordan. 

Halfway through her coaching years, Karie became a Showcase America Judge and has been judging for 25 years.  Karie truly believes in the motto “Giving Back” and has been on the Showcase America Unlimited board for 15 years serving as Vice President, Treasurer, Trustee, Ways and Means and most recently as the Nationals Coordinator.  You can almost always find her snapping photos for SCAU’s Social Media as well.

Hello Fellow Movers & Lovers of dance, my name is Madalaina Welton and here is a little Bio about me.

As a competitive dancer starting at the age of 4, Madalaina earned numerous scholarships, convention invitationals and Overall titles, Including Dancer of the Year 2013 and 2014 and Miss Dance Power Elite USA 2009. She continued her dance career in college earning 3 National and 2 world titles as a member of the University of Cincinnati Dance team. Professionally she performed as a core member of Exhale Dance tribe for two years, as well as performing in Local theatre shows in Cincinnati, before joining the staff of KAR National Dance Competition as a Master of Ceremonies. In 2019 Madalaina switched gears from performer to now Judge, Coach, Director, and Choreographer over the course of years. She has choreographed for studios, Colegate and high school teams, as well as local gyms and cheer schools. She has and now won numerous titles as a coach and choreographer, some of which include, best choreography for solos and groups, best concept and best costume and continues to do so. She continues her dance profession now teaching and choreographing among esteemed colleagues as well as working in Theatre and dance at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the park. She credits her supportive parents as well as her teachers and mentors and her ability to do a Leg extension at the age of 2. As her students would say, Madalaina's sass, fire, contagious spirit and smile keep her motivated and balanced and a force to be around in the world of dance and training. Madalaina's attention to detail as well as her patient, corky and positive teaching style provides her dancers and students teachings to learn invaluable technical skills and performance. Her dance career is yet to be finished, and she looks forward to the time she sees YOU on that stage.

Roni Petersen graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. Roni is the former Executive Director of Showcase Camps & Productions and past Director of Dance for AmeriDance. She has helped with the productions of the Capital One Bowl and All State Sugar Bowl Halftime performances for several years. She was a founding member of the Columbus Crewzers dance team (Columbus Crew-MLS), she served as captain, choreographer and Assistant Director. She is a former coach of the Columbus Destroyers professional dance team "The Bombshells". She is currently teaching Ballet classes at Judy Dollenmayer Studio of Dance in Gahanna, OH.

Stephanie Moore is honored to bring her 27 years of coaching, teaching, and adjudicating to Showcase America Unlimited. She is born and raised here in Dayton, OH. She began her dance training at the age of 7 and started twirling at the age of 10. She has studied and continues to grow in ballet, baton, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, and contemporary. After being a part of several dance teams and a baton team, she went onto start coaching. She started as an assistant coach for a local dance team for 3 years. She then moved on to coaching her alma mater dance team and color guard for 4 years, before returning to studio teaching. She has donated her time to help choreograph dances for several local cheerleading and dance teams over the years. She was also a staff member for the All-American Cheer & Dance Pro Bowl Tour. She has held various positions for the Miami Valley Dance Teacher Association. She is currently teaching and the Dance Team Director for a studio.

Stephanie’s love for dance now is to show, guide, teach and mentor every student that crosses her path to have the confidence and courage to achieve all their dance journey and their dreams.

Ms. Amy Vandergriff-Veldhaus is the owner of Dance Collaborative Cincinnati. As a dancer Amy has been recognized for her talents on both a regional and national level. She has been awarded top honors in many of the countries leading dance circuits and has performed in professional productions and televised talent events. As a teacher and choreographer, Amy has been awarded for her work in many areas, including lyrical/jazz technique, lyrical/jazz choreography and overall entertainment value. Through her efforts Amy has given hundreds of young performers the opportunity to succeed in dance as a performing art. Many of her students have been awarded scholarships, are dancing in college or have moved on to professional careers in the dance industry. She has also choreographed several routines which have been nominated for the ‘Industry Dance Awards’ Routine of the Year. Amy has choreographed musicals on a local level, such as Chicago, Hairspray, and Guys and Dolls, to name a few. Ms. Vandergriff Veldhaus has also been recognized, in several national dance circuits, as Director and Teacher of the Year. Amy currently lives in Cincinnati with her husband Todd, and sons Joe and Tuck.

Carole has danced with the Dayton Ballet Company under Josephine Schwartz while in high school; Assistant Director of Centerville Coeds, Showcase Judge under John Graham, Marilyn Rice, and Mindy Farry; Summer Camp Instructor for Fred Miller; Cheerleading Coordinator at Centerville High School. Carole is currently a board member and judge for Showcase America. 

Bio coming soon! 

I’m Kayla Diltz from Fraser, Michigan. I competed through SCAU as a member of Hazel Park Dance Teams from elementary to high school; graduating in 2008. I continued my dance journey by becoming a choreographer and coach for the HPDT program (all age levels) for 10+ years. 

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During my years of coaching,  I earned my Bachelors Degree in Social Work from Oakland University followed by a Masters in SW from the University of Michigan. In November 2018, I was diagnosed with a Grade 4 Glioblastoma Multiforme. After beginning cancer treatment and finding out I was expecting a son, I decided to step away from coaching to focus on my health. Currently, I am a full time mom to two rambunctious little boys! 

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In 2023, my dance journey with SCAU came full circle when I accepted a position as a member of the judging panel! It has been so fulfilling getting back into an organization that raised me as not only a dancer but as a woman! Best of luck on the dance floor! 

Mary Laile has over 30 years' experience as a dancer/performer, instructor and a judge. She grew up as a competitive dancer and competed through the Showcase circuit since she was a teen. She was a member of the SCAU National award winning Groveport Cruiserettes, and she was also crowned Miss Dance Ohio in 1998. After high school, Mary continued her dance journey when she joined the Columbus Crewzers and became a coach for her middle school/high school teams, still competing through the Showcase circuit. She has had the privilege to perform at MLS All-Star Cup games, NFL games, on Carnival Cruise Lines, First Night Columbus and Kings Island.  Along with Mary's passion for dance, she also works full-time as a Training and Development Manager at Trinity Health. Mary earned her Bachelor's degree and MBA from Ohio Dominican University and she resides in Grove City, Ohio with her two sons, Charles and William.  

Originally from Houston, Texas, Reagan Crandall is a dancer, performer, teacher, and choreographer. In May of 2022, she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Sam Houston State University with a minor in Mass Communication. Prior to college, Reagan was a member of the METtoo Youth Company where she studied under Marlana
Doyle and Genene Wallis-McGrath. She is a founding member of WhirlWind Dance Company and has had the opportunity to be a guest artist with Houston Contemporary and NobleMotion Dance. Reagan has been fortunate enough to work with choreographers such as Sidra Bell, Brandon Coleman, Gregory Dolbashian, Joshua Manculich, Lindsey Matheis, Andy Noble, Evelyn Toh, Shen Wei and many more!

Scott began his training at the Ballet Theater of Ashtabula. He furthered his training at Ballet Met and The Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet as a full scholarship student. Mr. DeCola has performed as a Principal and Solo Artist with many acclaimed professional dance companies, some of which include; Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, The Ohio Ballet, The Richmond Ballet, The Joffrey Ensemble Dancers, Alaska’s North Star Ballet, Hawaii Ballet Theater, and The Florida Ballet. Scott has also been featured in dancing roles at the Lincoln Center in New York City, the Festival of Lights in Montreal, the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland, the Shinjuku Bunka Festival in Japan, the Theatre Royal Festival in Australia and his most memorable, the Grand Pas Festival at the famed Bolshoi Theatre in Russia. Scott has an extensive touring resume, with performances in 26 countries. In 2010 Scott returned to his hometown of Ashtabula to teach and foster a new generation of dancers. Before becoming the Owner/Director of Wildfire Dance Studio in 2021, Scott served as the Director of Technique/Choreographer with them for 11 years. Wildfire's competition program is nationally recognized by many in the competitive dance world as one to watch, winning numerous state and national titles. Scott has also judged many national, regional and local scholarship, talent, dance, and beauty contests over the past 25 years. Scott currently sits on the National Advisory Board for USAF - All Star Dance, is a Connection Leader with that organization, and has also been
inducted into the 2024 AmeriDance Buckeye Coaches Hall of Fame.