Sparta - Members of the Performing Arts Company at the Sussex County Academy of Dance in Sparta won numerous honors at the regional competition for Dance Xplosions National Talent Competition held April 8 in Rutherford. The company is the traveling competition team for the Sussex County Academy of Dance and consists of members from throughout Sussex County. In the petite soloist competition, Serena Arnold placed third overall, with Katie Hoffmann placing second. The petite group of Sebastian Cook, Elijah Cook, Katie Hoffmann, Amanda Salerno, Maria Christodoulou, Alicen DiPiano and Serena Arnold placed fifth, fourth and third overall. Junior soloist Sara Lucas placed fifth overall, Kiana Grant third and Christina Degasperis second. For junior small groups, the studio won fifth overall, third overall and first overall for the number, Sing, Sing, Sing. The members of this group were Kiana Grant, Sara Lucas, Christina Degasperis, Erini Christodoulou and Kyriaki Christodoulou. In the teen solo category, Elizabeth Masci took second overall with her dance, Caught a Light Sneeze. In the teen musical theater division, the group of Edan Stanly, Carly Chiarella, Holly LaTorre and Maryellen Carrigan placed first for their rendition of Mama I’m a Big Girl Now. In the senior solo division, Kira Stanley placed fifth, with Sarah Parker placing third and winning the category with her number, Lover Lay Down. In the senior trio division, Mary Ann Lucas, Megan Smith and Sarah Parker finished second overall with the number, Fast Tracks. In the final division, the senior small group, the studio placed fifth, fourth, second, and won the category with the number, My Philosophy, which also won best choreography, a special award given by the judges. The group was made up of Mary Ann Lucas, Megan Smith, Kira Stanely, Sarah Parker, Nicole Wilson, and Elizabeth Masci. The Sussex County Academy of Dance teaches both recreational and professional dance classes to students of all ages. Any dancer is welcome to try out for the Performing Arts Company. Auditions for next year’s company will be held on Saturday June 3, at the studio, located next to Service Electric Cable in Sparta. For information, call 973-729-9449.