KAR Tulsa April 2026: A Standout Weekend for Elite Dance

On April 10, our dancers took the stage at the KAR Dance Competition right here in Tulsa, and they did not hold back. From our tiniest performers to our senior company members, Elite Dance of Tulsa showed up with energy, artistry, and heart. Here's a look at how the weekend unfolded.

Title Winners

Two of our dancers earned prestigious KAR title awards, which are given to the highest-scoring soloists in each age division. Lyric Simmons was crowned Elite Miss Junior Dance for her solo "Beneath The Surface," and Olivia Weber earned Elite Miss Teen Dance with "Hurt." These titles are a tremendous honor and reflect not just technical skill but stage presence and artistry that stood out across the entire competition.

In the Secondary division, Isabella Cubillos took home the Miss Petite Dance title with her solo "Barbie World," and Sebastian Trantham earned the Primary Mr. Teen Dance title with "Boogey Man." Four title winners in a single weekend & we couldn't be prouder.

Solo Highlights

Our soloists were on fire across every division. In the Elite division, Amelia Rich (age 6-8) took first place with "Just A Girl," proving that star power has no age requirement. Sydney Livesay earned a strong second-place finish with "Top Toe," and Lily Rashid placed third with the emotionally compelling "Dissolving."

The Intermediate division saw three first-place finishes: Riley Dewitt with "Hallelujah," Hazel Rubey with "Awakening," and Charley Fisher with "I'm Through." That's three different age groups, three gold-standard performances. In the Secondary division, Jasilyn Tillery claimed first with "Barbie" and Isabella Cubillos followed right behind in second with "Barbie World."

Among our Elite 9-11 soloists, Brooklynne Ruth placed second with "Stand Still," Bryn Struttmann took third with "Patterns," and Kallie Cooper earned fourth with "Written On The Sky." In the 15-19 age group, Reagan Vanbebber placed third with the beautifully vulnerable "I'm Worried It Will Always Be You."

Group Routines That Brought the House Down

The group numbers were a highlight of the weekend. Our youngest competitors in the Secondary small group division took first place with the high-energy "You Should Be Dancing" and yes, the audience absolutely agreed.

In the Intermediate division, we swept the top of the leaderboard. "West End Girls" (small group, 9-11) and "Bam Bam" (small group, 12-14) both earned first place. The large group "Girls" (9-11) also claimed the top spot, with "Somebody's Watching Me" finishing second and "Ode To The Stars" rounding out the podium in third.

Our Elite small groups delivered as well. "Low Rider" (9-11) and "Tred Softly" (12-14) each earned first place in their categories, showcasing the range and versatility of our choreography and our dancers' ability to command the stage in any style.

Duets and Trios

The duet and trio category was stacked with Elite Dance entries, and they delivered. In the Elite division, "I Hate Boys" (6-8) and "Seasons" (12-14) both took first place, while "Rescue" (9-11) and "Don't Cha" (12-14) earned second. These routines demand an incredible level of trust and synchronization between partners, and our dancers nailed it.

Convention Scholarships

Several of our dancers were awarded KAR Convention Scholarships across multiple divisions and age groups recognition that goes beyond a single performance and speaks to their overall growth and potential as artists. These scholarships provide additional training opportunities and are a meaningful investment in each dancer's development.

What This Weekend Means

A results list only tells part of the story. Behind every placement is a dancer who showed up to rehearsal week after week, pushed through the hard days, and trusted the process. Behind every group number is a team that learned to move as one. And behind every title winner is a young artist finding their voice on stage.

Competition season is far from over, and this KAR weekend set the tone for what's ahead. To every dancer, parent, and teacher who made this weekend possible, thank you. The work shows, and it's only getting started.