Article written by Tabitha Johnston and published in The Journal on January 22, 2026 link to full article HERE.
On Saturday, the first ever The Best of Berkeley Dance Competition was held at Hedgesville High School.
Established by the Hedgesville Dance Team, the event drew group and solo performers from studios throughout the Eastern Panhandle and beyond, to compete for a winning title in the school's auditorium.
"There are so many talented dancers in this area," said Deborah Barr, of Hedgesville. "It was so beautiful to see them supporting one another and to see all who came out to support them."
Her delight at seeing the competition was shared by many others, including Martinsburg resident Kristen Hammer-Weidman.
"It was a first, and not a last, huge success. All of these baby girls did so amazing," Hammer-Weidman said. "We have a great county with some very amazing studios and talent."
The experience was also a positive one for the competitors, according to Extreme Dance Director Amanda Drewery.
"It was really awesome for them to get all of the locals together at that," Drewery said. "It was a good way to get the community together. It was nice to have all of the kids, who pour so much love and devotion into their dancing, to be able to come together."
She added that the competition had turned out well, especially considering it was the competition's inaugural year.
"It has the potential to definitely grow. It was a great start for them," Drewery said. "Hopefully, more locals will be able to participate and bring more routines to it in the future. We had 18 participants in that competition, which was great. The more experience they get, the better they’re going to be."
Due to its success, the Hedgesville Dance Team announced it has already begun making plans for the competition to become an annual event.
"Thank you to everyone who came out to the Best of Berkeley Dance Competition. The energy, talent and support made it unforgettable," the team said in a joint statement. "We can’t wait to do it all again next year."
Drewary said she was delighted to hear this news, as there has been a need for an event like this, to be developed in the region for the past few years.
"When I started teaching dance here 22 years ago, there were only three dance studios. Now there are 12," Drewery said. "We are constantly fundraising, and actually just started three new fundraisers and sponsorships, to help our students be able to enjoy all of these competition opportunities. It's nice to have at least one competition they can participate in, that doesn't require a significant time and financial commitment."