JADE CLOUD
Walking on sunshine, dancing on a “Cloud”
12 year-old dancing phenom is ready for the big time
By PETER FRANCIS
INTERN
WESTFIELD – Jade Cloud is a special individual. A dancer for the New England Dance & Gymnastics Center in Westfield, she has been a noteworthy name around New England in dance circles for several years now, garnering attention for her perfect score performances in competitions around the eastern United States.
Oh, and here’s the kicker: Jade Cloud is only twelve years old.
The likelihood that this teen sensation will soon become a household name is growing by the day, as her recent performance at the Star Systems National Dance Competition in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina has all but cemented her place among the elite in the nation in her age group.
During the weeklong competition, Jade was judged in a ballet class, an onstage interview and a talent presentation. Cloud would emerge with the top prize in all three components. Her overall performance earned her the title of Junior Miss Dance for the Star Systems Talent Competition.
In addition to her dominance on the dance circuit, which has included competition victories in almost every state on the east coast, she has also appeared in national publications such as Dance Magazine, Dance Spirit Magazine, Dance Studio Life and Dance Teacher. She can also add being the face of the Headliners Dance Competition to her already crowded list of accolades. Cloud has also appeared in music videos and advertisements for companies like Nintendo Inc. and the Hasbro Toy Company.
Behind Jade in all of her activities is her mother Loree, who doubles as her coach and the owner of the NEDG Westfield studio.
“She has been dancing since she was 2,” her mother said, “it’s what she loves to do, what she lives to do. She has won competitions in Chelmsford and Springfield since nationals, so she is on a roll right now.”
Her coach also went on to say that Jade hasn’t lost a competition in over a year, while competing in the advanced division for the ten-to-twelve age group in every event. Hard to believe that such a prodigious talent is only a seventh grader at Westfield’s North Middle School this year.
While this shooting star hopes to follow in the fabled footsteps of New England Dance & Gymnastics Center alum Meghan Hinkis, who currently dances for the London Royal Ballet, the twelve-year-old hopes to someday become a dentist after her dance career has concluded.
While her dancing career is still in it’s infancy, there is no doubt that this dancing queen will be making Westfield very proud for years to come. History has taught us that, when it comes to sports or any other arena in which competitors can achieve great adolescent success, that there is no such thing as a “can’t miss prospect”.
However, in the case of this amazing dancer, almost everyone is in agreement: Jade Cloud is as close to “can’t miss” as Westfield is likely to see.
Peter Francis can be reached at [email protected]
