Lillian Goodman

EASLEY — Local dancer Lillian Goodman will have a busy summer ahead of her. Goodman won the chance to compete for two separate national dance titles at regional competitions this year.

The first competition will be held in Rock Hill this weekend, where Goodman will compete for America’s Mini Miss Dance. She won the opportunity back in May at the regional competition held in North Charleston where she received a platinum for her solo, “Naughty,” Goodman will compete in interview, audition class and solo routine for this event.

In July, Goodman will head to Orlando, Fla., for 10 days to compete for Petite Miss Dance of America with Dance Masters of America. Goodman is currently Petite Miss Dance of S.C., a title she earned in November at the chapter (Southern Council of Dance Masters) competition. Goodman has spent the past year traveling to different SCDM events emceeing and performing as part of her duties. She also won the overall Petite Scholarship at the SCDM Winter convention in January.

While in Florida, Goodman will compete with other title holders from across the United States and Canada. The Dance Masters Competition will be a four day event of interview, competition classes (in four areas) and solo competition. She will also get to work with a choreographer and learn a routine with all the other contestants to be performed at the opening of their main competition night. In addition to all the competition events, Goodman will get to take master classes with choreographer from all over the U.S. and Canada. Many of the recent “So You Think You Can Dance” top 20 and winners have grown up competing at the Dance Masters Nationals that Goodman will be attending.

Goodman is currently a student at Easley Dance Conservatory, where she studies ballet, tap, jazz and modern.

“Lillie has had an incredible year,” EDC artistic director Suzanne Goodman said. “Nationals will be tough, but I know she will make us proud and come back even more determined to work harder.”

She also said Goodman has been doing well in gymnastics this year, placing second out of 700 gymnasts at the State Excel Bronze level meet.

“Gymnastics will help her hang tough with all the fabulous dancers she will encounter in Florida,” she added.