PLATINUM SUPERSTARS TO HOST DANCE SHOWCASE
The Platinum Superstars will present “A Trip Around the World Dance Showcase” on Saturday, July 24th. This unique event will “board” at Manatee Performing Arts Center at 7:00 p.m. and will “travel” around the world to different genres of dance including hip-hop, ballet and majorette. The showcase will take the program to a new level, giving the girls and boys background training in other forms of communication other than as majorettes.
Tonisha Benson is the group’s founder/CEO and is owner of the first black studio in the area. “I started working with them as hip-hop majorettes but there are so many genres that fall under that umbrella,” Benson said. “I want to be able to give them the background training that they need in order to branch out into other areas,” she said.
Benson founded Platinum Superstars back in 2018. She had such a love for dance that it was the natural thing to do. “I have loved dance since I was five years old,” she said.
“I wanted to give our inner city girls and boys something positive to look forward to. The showcase will give them that opportunity to display their talent.”
The first showcase Benson held had a “candyland” theme and gave her an opportunity to see where the girls were before they started competing.
Now in its third year, the group recently relocated to the Manatee County area and is located at 651 17th Street West, Unit P in Palmetto. “The move puts us closer to larger cities such as Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater.
“We will be doing some of the same things but with a twist. When COVID happened last year, I had to go back to the drawing board to re-think what we would be doing and the vision was to offer more than just competing,”
she said. In the next three to five years, she wants to open the “Platinum University School of the Arts” and offer other categories of artistic styles such as modern dance, jazz, synchronized dance movement, acting, music, acting and vocals.
A native of Sarasota – where she was born and raised – Benson started at Newtown Estates gym where she held rehearsals and shows. She wore most of the hats – coach, choreographer. “There were times when I would fly in a choreographer to help with that aspect of the show.” She is looking for coaches with background in technique, tap, hop-hop and/or ballet training.
Tickets “for the flight” are $22.00. For ticket information, visit https://tickets.flculturalgroup.org/theatremanager/1/tmevent/tmevent1111.htm or call 941-879-4737. Sponsorships are available by calling also.
Registration is now closed for new students but will re-open after the showcase on July 25th. The program was initially for girls only ages 7-18, but is now open to boys and girls ages 4-19. Interested individuals may register at www.theplatinumpalace.com.
