Anthony Maneri, 11 of Canterbury, is a competitor in hip hop dancing with the undefeated Street Elite dance team of East Lyme. His dance team travels to Virginia Beach May 1st for National competition.
story & photo
by Maren Schober
How many eleven year olds do you know whose passion is hip hop dancing? Meet Anthony Maneri, 11, of Canterbury. He performs with the WNBA CT Sun Munchkin Dance Team starting out with them at age 7! And this is not all. In addition Anthony is a junior member of the award winning Street Elite competitive hip hop dance team out of Eastern Connecticut Ballet in East Lyme.
“Anthony started dancing very early,” his father Robbie tells me. “Well before he started kindergarten, Anthony was dancing in our family room to the ‘Teletubbies’ on TV.”
“Anthony was dancing all over our house in every room! He was doing head stands and all kinds of dance moves. My wife Jackie heard about the auditions for the Munchkin Dance team and brought him there. Anthony was accepted as a team member at the auditions even though he had no training or dance lessons at that time.”
“The hardest part of the auditions and competitions is remembering the new parts of the dance,” Anthony acknowledges. “Hip hop dancing is a combination of dance styles such as break dancing, popping, freestyle, tricks and locking. I like to compete! I am not afraid to perform in front of people. I like the exercise and I make lots of friends on the dance teams.”
“ So far this season all of the Street Elite dance teams are undefeated. I will be travelling to Virginia Beach for National Competition May 1st,” Anthony continues.
“All of the Street Elite dance teams are truly incredible to watch,” Jackie affirms.
Anthony’s younger brother Logan inserts a DVD into the machine and turns on the TV. There before my eyes dances Anthony with the Street Elite Dancers, front row center. They are truly awesome.
How much rehearsal time is required? Lots! “With the Munchkin Dance Team I rehearse every Friday night May-September,” declares Anthony. I rehearse two times a week all year long with the Street Elite dancers. We have about ten competitions throughout the year.”
“Nothing is a ‘shoe in’ “ Robbie explains. “Anthony has to audition every year in order to stay on the dance teams.”
Does Anthony show signs of slowing down? Not on your life. “I want to keep on doing what I am doing for years ahead.”
Posted on March 31st, 2010 | category: Featured Articles
Great Article Anthony. I’m am so proud of you and even prouder to say I know you.Keep up the good work. Work hard, play harder. Love Mimi
Anthony is an incredible dancer!!! You rock Anthony!!!!!
Anthony really is an awesome dancer. As an older street elite member I am so excited to see him come up to the senior level in the next few years and be able to work toward dance worlds in orlando flordia at disney. I can not wait to see where it takes him. He most certainly has the passion you can see it on his face when hes performing. You can tell just by watching him he really loves what he is doing.
Thank you for all of you’re comments, guys.
you’r awseome and I think dancing is awseome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!