Both KCK resident Mark Harris, and Shelley Judd, of Walters Dance Center, won the Top Male Teacher Award and Top Female Teacher Awards at the Sunflower Dance Festival recently in Wichita, Kan.
It is an annual event and is the largest dance event in Kansas that offers Ballroom, Country and Swing contests.
The Top Teacher Award is based on placements by students. In Pro-Am divisions, students dance with their teacher.
On Friday morning and afternoon, the Ballroom competitions were held. Dancing with Mark Harris, KCK resident, Angela Lamb won first place in all of her dances.
Carol Dikeman and Mulan Way danced with their pro, James Netherton, also from Walters, and they both won many first place awards.
Charles O’Neal danced Ballroom with his teacher, Shari Augustine, of Walters, and won first place in many dances.
Ed Fukanaga and Jana Stewart, as an amateur couple, won first place in many dances.
Swing Competitions were held on Friday evening. In the Pro-Am divisions: Angela Lamb won first place, Rebecca Moore won second place, Jane Buttenhoff won third place, Debbie Nylund won fourth place, and Lorrie McCurdy won fifth place, in Newcomer Strictly Swing, all dancing with their pro, Mark Harris.
In Novice Strictly Swing, Patsy Stafford won first place, dancing with Mark Harris. In Strictly Hustle, Angela Lamb won first place, and Joann Luedke won second place, all dancing with their pro, Mark Harris. Bryan Jenx won second place in Pro-Am Strictly Swing Newcomer West Coast Swing and Buck Stafford placed second in pro-am Novice Strictly Swing, dancing with their pro, Mary Harris. Ed Fukanaga won first pace in many events dancing with his pro, Shelley Judd, and Ed Fukanaga and Jana Stewart won first place in many Swing, Hustle, and Salsa dance events as an amateur couple.
Country Pro-am Competitions were held on Saturdayand Sunday. Jane Buttenhoff won first place overall in Platinum Intermediate, Angela Lamb won First Place Overall in Open Newcomer, Lorrie McCurdy won third place overall in Silver Novice, Rebecca Moore won third place overall in Silver Newcomer, Joann Luedke received all golds in Gold Newcomer, Vivian Crosby received all golds in Gold Newcomer, and Roberta Adams received all golds in Bronze Newcomer, all dancing with their pro, Mark Harris. Ed Fukanaga won first place Gold Intermediate, first place in Bronze Intermediate, and third place in Silver Intermediate, dancing with Shelley Judd. Bryan Jenks won first place overall in Platinum Newcomer, and Bruce Moore received two golds and gold with honors on his three dances in Pre-Newcomer, dancing with their pro, Mary Harris. Ted Haase danced with his pro, Pris Allen, and won first place in Gold Newcomer and Silver newcomer.
Country Couples Divisions were danced on Sunday morning. Bryan Jenks and Vivian Crosby won first place overall in Newcomer Bronze. Ed Fukunaga and Jana Stewart won second place in both Intermediate Bronze and Intermediate Silver.
