To outsiders it may have seemed like a case of beginner’s luck for five young Bermudian dancers who took home top awards in their first overseas dance competition.For Haley Cantarella, Samantha Hollis, Jada Pearman, Taylor Railton and Tajante Wainwright, it was nothing but hard work and sheer determination that helped them succeed at the recent Nuvo Dance Convention and Competition in Orlando, Florida.The In Motion dancers won a gold award for their jazz performance choreographed by local instructor Candice Musselman.Miss Railton took home the top prize for her solo choreographed by Ashley Lindsey; she was also given a scholarship to take part in a future Nuvo programme.Miss Pearman received a high silver award for her contemporary solo and was also presented with an award covering the cost of a jazz or contemporary dance programme of her choosing.Director Lizz Pimentel of In Motion School of Dance told The Royal Gazette: “Given that this was our very first experience in a dance competition and convention environment, I am absolutely thrilled at the results and how well they represented themselves and Bermuda.“To have competed against so many other dancers and have won gold and high silver is a true testament to how their hard work and endless hours of dance training have paid off.”The girls participated in classed with renowned choreographers Travis Wall, of the television show ‘So You Think You Can Dance’, and Jason Parsons.Ms Pimentel said the local dancers were even singled out on a few occasions and asked to demonstrate movement and dance style. Though they are considered ‘concert dancers’ and not used to the competition dance environment, she said it was clear they were versatile enough to fit in and adapt.“Being able to go overseas and experience dance in an outside environment and with so many other dancers of varying ages and degrees of training is always a benefit to the dancers and staff.“It not only allows the staff and myself to gauge where our local curriculum is in relation to the rest of the dancers overseas but also gives the dancers a good indication of where their strengths and weaknesses lie and how they can improve upon them.“The experience of trying our hand at competition/commercial dance and exposing the dancers to a new way of moving and interpreting choreography that they are not regularly exposed to further enables them to build on their dance technique and versatility.”She said the best part of the three-day experience was seeing how well the group performed compared with so many other talented dancers.It was also rewarding to see the choreography by local instructor Ms Musselman well received by other studios and dancers, she explained.“I have to say knowing that our studio family was watching the competition live in Bermuda and sending supporting texts and messages to all of us was extra special,” Ms Pimentel said.“Parents and dancers were gathered around the computers at each others’ houses watching and supporting our dancers. The awards and certificates were a pleasant surprise and well-earned by the dancers.”Useful website: www.gonuvo.com