Local Dance Academy Wins Top Award at Branson Competition

NADT Dance Academy takes home 'Apex' honor for overall excellence in performance and technique.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 8:31pm

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A striking black silhouette of dancers in motion, captured in a bold, minimalist graphic style that evokes the energy and artistry of a dance competition.The NADT Dance Academy's sweep of honors at a prestigious regional competition showcases the exceptional talent and hard work of its dancers.Branson Today

The North Arkansas Dance Theatre (NADT) Dance Academy's competition team secured a major studio honor and dozens of individual awards at the Groove Dance Competition in Branson, Missouri last month. The academy's founder and director, Cindy Hubberd, accepted the prestigious Apex Studio Award, recognizing the program for its overall excellence in performance and technique. Local residents will have the opportunity to see the award-winning choreography in person next month when the academy presents its upcoming production, 'The Greatest Show', on May 29 and 30 in Batesville.

Why it matters

The Groove Dance Competition in Branson is a prestigious regional event that draws top dance talent from across the area. NADT's sweep of honors and the Apex Studio Award recognition highlights the exceptional quality of the academy's training programs and the hard work of its dancers. This success helps cement NADT's reputation as a leading dance institution in North Arkansas.

The details

At the Groove Dance Competition, NADT dancers from multiple academy locations earned a sweep of adjudicated honors and several Top Ten placements. In addition to high scores, several NADT routines were singled out by the panel for specialized Judges' Choice Awards. The weekend's highest honor went to the academy's leadership, with NADT founder and director Cindy Hubberd accepting the Apex Studio Award, a distinction recognizing the program for overall excellence in performance and technique.

  • The Groove Dance Competition took place last month in Branson, Missouri.
  • NADT will present its upcoming production, 'The Greatest Show', on May 29 and 30, 2026 in Batesville.

The players

North Arkansas Dance Theatre (NADT) Dance Academy

A regional dance academy with multiple locations that fields a competitive team, recognized for its overall excellence in performance and technique.

Cindy Hubberd

The founder and director of the NADT Dance Academy, who accepted the prestigious Apex Studio Award on behalf of the program.

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What they’re saying

“Our dancers worked incredibly hard for these results.”

— NADT Dance Academy

What’s next

Area residents will have the opportunity to see the award-winning choreography in person next month when the NADT Dance Academy presents its upcoming production, 'The Greatest Show', on May 29 and 30 in Batesville.

The takeaway

The NADT Dance Academy's sweep of honors at the Groove Dance Competition, including the prestigious Apex Studio Award, solidifies its reputation as a leading dance institution in North Arkansas. The academy's commitment to excellence in performance and technique has paid off, and local audiences will soon have the chance to experience the award-winning choreography firsthand.