The Straub Dance Center Performing Arts Company (PAC) is dedicated to the advancement of dancers. More than 100 Straub Dancers, age six and above, belong to the Straub PAC. Productions, lines, groups, duos, and solos compete locally and nationally each year in the forms of tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, musical theatre, open, lyrical, and contemporary.
Belonging to the PAC often leads to faster advancement for serious dancers. PAC members often develop lifelong friendships (both among dancers and parents), are able to supplement dance education during competition master classes and learn from watching different dance centers from across the country compete. The Straub PAC is truly a mini-family within the Straub community.
Accolades
Straub Dancers have been winning state and national top awards with Ohio’s Dance Masters, Dance Masters of America, KAR, Legacy, Rainbow, OnStage America, ShowBiz, and more since the early 1990s. In 2016, McKenzie McGrath was named first runner-up to Miss Dance of Ohio, was named Miss KAR and Miss World Class, and placed top overall for senior solos at Dance Masters of America; in 2017, McKenzie was crowned Miss Dance of Ohio and Distinguished Young Woman of Ohio. McKenzie is now in her third year as a New York City Rockette. Also on Broadway was Barbara Jo Bednarczuk (“My Fair Lady”). Maria Dalanno (“Mrs. Doubtfire”) and Beth Johnson Nicely (“Chicago”) are current performers. Straub has trained four Rockettes and countless professional dancers.
In March of 2019, dozens of students were recognized at the Ohio Dance Masters Scholarship Program, which recognizes technical dance training. Delaney Podracky, age 12, was awarded top overall in four scholarship subjects, and Caroline Straub Kiefaber, age 13, was awarded top overall in four subjects. In May, senior performer Alyssa Ranney was awarded Miss Legacy for her outstanding solo performance. In July of 2019, eight Straub PAC numbers were asked to the Grand National Championship in Atlanta, Georgia, and the “Teen PAC Tap Line” was awarded top large line in the nation. In 2021, Straub was again awarded the Top Teen Line in the nation at the Dance Masters of America competition in Texas. Straub groups, lines, production, duos, and solos receive numerous platinum and elite top firsts as well as costume and technical special awards throughout each competition season. The Straub PAC members are consistently acknowledged by judges for strong, technically sound dances with appropriate choreography and costuming. We are so very proud of all of our competitors!
Competitions
Straub Dance Center usually competes three times each year within Ohio and once nationally. In recent years, Straub’s PAC has competed in Columbus, Cleveland, Youngstown, and Dayton, and nationally in Orlando, New Orleans, Atlanta, Anaheim, San Antonio, Connecticut, and Nashville.
Extra Performances
Straub PAC Dancers are often asked to perform at many local extra performances. Such performances may include participating in parades, church performances, sporting events, entertainment (the “Harlem Globetrotters” and Blue Jackets), the Westerville Music and Arts Festival, and more. Many students record performances as volunteer time for the National Honor Society or scholarship applications.
More Information
Dancers and/or parents who are interested in joining the Straub Performing Arts Company are advised to first contact the dance center to register for dance lessons. Suzy Straub, Artistic Director, is the company’s primary choreographer and PAC organizer. Please contact the center through the contact us form available on this site.
Students interested in PAC are required to attend ballet during summer dance and whatever form of dance they are interested in competing with (example: if a dancer is interested in auditioning for jazz competition, he or she must enroll in at least one ballet class and one jazz class during summer dance and attend each lesson; if a dancer is interested in auditioning for tap competition, he or she must enroll in at least one ballet class and one tap class during summer dance and attend each lesson). To compete in ballet or jazz competition, dancers must be able to hold a left and right split. Dancers are evaluated during summer dance for fall PAC placement.