In my 25 years in the business, I had never heard of the World Championships of Performing Arts until one night; I searched the internet for “Elite Talent Competitions.” So many competitions resulted from that search, but I was looking for something for kids that could offer an experience that would help challenge them and push them through to the next level. When I found the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA), I was shocked that I had never heard of this competition before. It had everything I was looking for; singing, dancing, acting, modeling, and a HUGE variety of other art forms and workshops. To top the competitors would be working with some big names and industry professionals.
It all seemed too good to be true, so I watched some YouTube videos and saw several finale showcases from previous years. I was impressed by the production value of the finale, and I could picture the Dynamix Teams making it on that stage. So I sent in an application and a video audition, and soon I got a phone call from the vice president of WCOPA.
After several weeks of discussions, more videos, and logistics, we discovered that Dynamix Competition Team would represent Team USA at the World Championships of Performing Arts. This competition was like the Olympics of performing arts, where 61 countries worldwide would bring their most talented musicians, vocalists, dancers, actors, models, and variety acts to battle it out for the title of WORLD CHAMPION.
For a year and a half, our teams worked harder than ever to prepare for WCOPA. It was challenging because we had NO idea what we were stepping into or how we would compare to the competition. Finally, July came around, and we headed to WCOPA in Anaheim, CA.
We had no idea just how HUGE this competition would be or how amazing it would be to meet performers from across the world, but it was very cool. From the parade of nations (opening ceremonies) to the workshops to advancing to the semi-finals and the finale showcase, it was clear that all of the student’s hard work had indeed paid off. The finale showcase was an unforgettable experience. I will never forget what it felt like to discover that Dynamix made it in four categories. We had two Jr. Models, one Jr. Vocal group, and one Jr. Dance group. This accomplishment was exciting for Dynamix and incredibly exciting for Team USA.
The icing on the cake was when Dynamix was invited to perform in the final showcase opening! The finale show was incredible, and our finalists did a fantastic job. Ultimately, we came home with 3 Jr. Grand Champion Titles, 12 Gold medals, 11 Silver Medals, 6 Bronze Medals, 12 Overall category Winning Acts, five scholarships, and the honor of being WORLD CHAMPIONS!
There were many ups and downs on this journey at WCOPA, but we learned so much in the end. We learned that hard work pays off. We learned a new appreciation for international events and how much it matters to create connections and relationships with people from different parts of the world. Watching my students celebrate other performers regardless of where they are from or what language they speak showed that music and performing arts are the universal languages of the heart. World Championships was an experience I am confident we will all hold dear to our hearts for the rest of our lives.
