Watch Out Nationals, Here Comes Cathleen!

Cathleen​ ​“Cat”​ ​Rugh,​ ​advanced​ ​to​ ​the​ ​National​ ​Dance​ ​Competition​ ​which​ ​will​ ​be​ ​held​ ​later​ ​this​ ​summer in​ ​either​ ​Florida​ ​or​ ​Rhode​ ​Island.

Rugh​ ​qualified​ ​for​ ​Nationals​ ​based​ ​on​ ​her​ ​hard​ ​work​ ​and​ ​her​ ​high​ ​scores​ ​at​ ​Regionals.

“She’s​ ​her​ ​best,​ ​yet​ ​worst​ ​critic,”​ ​said​ ​her​ ​dance​ ​teacher,​ ​Ms.​ ​Landraw.

Rugh​ ​practiced​ ​around​ ​20​ ​hours​ ​a​ ​week​ ​and​ ​went​ ​to​ ​many​ ​dance​ ​conventions​ ​to​ ​improve​ ​her​ ​technique and​ ​skill.​ ​She​ ​has​ ​found​ ​that​ ​jazz​ ​and​modern​ ​contemporary​ ​are​ ​her​ ​favorite​ ​dance​ ​styles.

“I​ ​like​ ​watching​ ​her​ ​do​ ​contemporary​ ​and​ ​jazz,”​ ​said​ ​Kailey​ ​McCaskill,​ ​a​ ​student​ ​from​ ​her​ ​dance​ ​class.

Rugh’s​ ​packed​ ​practice​ ​schedule​ ​has​ ​resulted​ ​in​ ​success​ ​for​ ​herself​ ​and​ ​has​ ​also​ ​inspired​ ​her​ ​friends​ ​and peers​ ​around​ ​her.

“She’s​ ​a​ ​very​ ​hard​ ​worker​ ​and​ ​she​ ​deserves​ ​everything​ ​she​ ​gets,”​ ​said​ ​McCaskill.

Rugh​ ​has​ ​won​ ​many​ ​awards​ ​and​ ​has​ ​made​ ​it​ ​to​ ​Nationals​ ​in​ ​previous​ ​years.

Photo: Elijah Macklin

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