Fort Greene

Junior dance teams ‘catch a shooting star’ at Barclays Center

Teens competed with hundreds to perform in pre-game show

February 4, 2014 Brooklyn Daily Eagle
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Two award-winning dance teams from Shooting Stars Performing Arts Company took center court at Barclays Center on Monday night, before the Nets took on the Philadelphia 76ers.

Led by director Kristin Ledingham-Pierce, the Express and Eastside Juniors teams were selected out of hundreds of dance, cheer and performing arts companies from across the country to perform a six minute high energy routine for thousands of fans. The pre-game performance was part of the Brooklyn Nets’ Prime Time Program.

“Performing the prime time spot for the Brooklyn Nets – in the amazing Barclays Center – is the culmination of what has been an exciting year for this team,” Kristin Pierce, owner and Director of Shooting Stars, said in a statement. “I am so proud of my girls – they have worked so hard – and this performance is the recognition they deserve.”

While this marks the company’s first appearance at a professional sporting event, the dancers at Shooting Stars are no strangers to the spotlight. For over three years, the teams have worked with fashion designer Betsy Johnson, performing at several fashion showcases, store events and festive holiday celebrations.

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The tams also put their collective star power towards raising awareness for two important causes.  Through collaboration with breast cancer activist Geralyn Lucas, the teams were featured in the viral video titled “OUCH” aimed at educating women on the importance of regularly scheduled mammograms. Shifting focus to a disorder that effects a number of the young dancers’ peers, the teams were also included in the HBO documentary “Rethinking Dyslexia: The Big Picture” directed by James Redford.

The performing teams are comprised of 35 girls, ages 12-18 that make a year-long commitment to perfecting their precision, technique, showmanship and most importantly teamwork. The appearance at Barclays Center highlighted the teams’ signature mix of hip hop, street jazz and pom precision – a style that helped them win the First Place Platinum trophy at last spring’s Regional Showstopper’s Competition, the largest dance competition in the country.


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