Sixth-grader has some showstopping moves
Savannah Forno believes there’s a drawback to the popular dance shows that have popped up on TV. If kids spend their time sitting and watching, they’re not doing the preparation necessary to get on those shows themselves. Savannah is, and she has a wall full of trophies and plaques to prove it.
This summer, the Holy Family School sixth-grader traveled to California and won first place in her age category in the Showstoppers West Coast finals with a solo tap routine. Showstoppers is a national dance championship, which has awarded millions of dollars in prizes and scholarships since its inception in 1979.
Savannah began dance lessons as a toddler, and continued just for fun. After watching a competitive Spokane dance troupe a few years ago, she decided to step up her game. She commutes to Julie’s Competitive Edge Dance Academy in Spokane twice a week and participates on a dance team, which also took home several awards from the Showstoppers event. Savannah studies at the Ballet School of Coeur d’Alene four days a week and believes ballet is an essential foundation. Besides providing her with good posture, it prepares her for other dance styles that she loves, including hip-hop, lyrical and jazz.
“That’s where you learn discipline and technique,” she said.
Despite her preparation, Savannah still found it nerve-wracking at the Showstoppers event.
“The dancers are way more advanced,” she said. “I thought there were other people who were so much better than me.”
She tapped to a medley of country tunes, wearing fuchsia fringe and a leather cowboy hat. Savannah believes that her attention to facial expressions sets her apart.
“That’s how I think I won, with my faces,” she said.
She’s competed since age 4 in local venues and normally feels quite comfortable on a stage. Besides dancing, Savannah studies singing and enjoys acting and modeling. One of her early titles was as Petite Miss Spotlight and she has performed for Lake City Playhouse, Spokane Civic and Children’s theaters, and more than 20 dance competitions. She recently had a part in North Idaho College’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Her resume includes a variety of accomplishments, including modeling for a Target print ad, and parts in a commercial and locally produced movie.
One might think that all this time in the spotlight could make a young girl self-centered, but Savannah said that her motivation comes from God and he has a plan for her to succeed. She prays before each competition and dreams of making enough money in entertainment to feed the poor. Helping out at homeless shelters for holiday meals is her favorite way to celebrate with her family.
Although her mother, Deborah, was responsible for taking Savannah to her first dance class, it is Savannah who is motivated to practice and improve. Her family did make it easier by converting the formal dining room into a make-shift dance studio. A little Pepsi on the laminated floor keeps her tapping feet from slipping.
The family enjoys watching her perform and doesn’t mind the inconvenience of numerous lessons, rehearsals and trips to competitions.
“It’s totally fun,” her mother said. “It’s better than sitting on a cold soccer field.”
Deborah Forno has found that the value of teamwork can be learned from participating in a theater group just as well as from playing on a sports team.
Savannah credits her father, Jim, with supporting her with all of her goals.
“He does everything he can to make my life wonderful,” she said.
Her mother gets the credit for instilling an attitude that can cope with the rejections and failures that are inevitable in a competitive life. Savannah has been coached that no matter who you are, everybody does well sometimes and doesn’t do well sometimes. Her mother believes it provides good lessons in dealing with ups and downs.
“If something happens, if you don’t win, just get up and try again,” Savannah said.