published: Friday, November 13, 2009

Shooting Star thinks he can dance

ROXANNE BROWN

Staff Writer

CLERMONT -- Teachers and students of Clermont's Shooting Stars dance studio were rooting for one of their own Tuesday night.

Jakob Karr, 19, is one of the top 16 contestants competing on FOX TV's "So You Think You Can Dance" show, which aired it's first live show this week.

The Windermere dancer studied at Shooting Stars for about nine years before being accepted to the Alvin Ailey Dance School, then Fordham University in New York last year. He auditioned for the reality dance series' 6th season in New Orleans on June 19 and so far has made it through a Broadway number, a waltz

and a jazz routine.

"He's a strong, unusual dancer. He has a great feel for dance and he's a good performer," Shooting Stars dance instructor and owner Melissa Stokes said. "When he called me with the news, I was excited for him, but not shocked. I think he was destined to do this."

Karr has been in Los Angeles rehearsing for Tuesday's performance, which was shown live.

The number, danced with partner and fellow contestant Ashleigh Di Lello, was a well-choreographed and danced a sultry Broadway dance to 'Hit Me With a Hot Note" that included a cane, such a part of their routine that they called it a "trio."

After the show, viewers were able to vote for their top pick.

All three judges raved about Karr and Nigel Lythgoe called him "one of the most gifted dancers."

Fellow students, teachers, family and friends of Karr's had their dialing fingers ready. And they have distributed flyers around Clermont and Orlando to encourage everyone to vote for Karr.

Tami Karr, Jakob's mother, is in Los Angeles with him and will be for as long as he stays in the show.

Jakob's father, Jim, and 21-year-old brother, T.J., were there last week but have since flown home, which means they were glued to the television Tuesday night.

"It's surreal. Jakob has worked so hard to get to this point. It's been a long journey," his mother said. "Jakob is really excited and a

little nervous like all of the people on the show. They are on pins and needles hoping their performances are good enough for another week."

Mary Katherine Fechtel, 14, who was in the same Shooting Stars dance company as Karr, said she would be watching the show Tuesday in between dance routines and could not wait to call in her vote.

"He (Karr) was a big inspiration and it was always a pleasure to dance with him. I could always count on him, especially during a

lift," Fechtel said.

Fechtel said she's watched Karr in all the audition and preliminary shows. "He's still the same Jakob."

Stokes said she has a television in the studio so that between routines and class breaks, the Shooting Stars students can watch Karr perform every Tuesday.

Stokes said she was recently informed that Shooting Stars dance

studio, located at 16207 State Road 40 in Clermont, has been rated as one of the top five competition teams in North America, an honor that will be noted in the December issue of Dance Spirit Magazine.

Even so, Stokes said her greatest measure of success is when any of her students goes on to achieve great things in the dance world.

"I feel blessed when one of my students decides they want to take dance to a professional level," Stokes said. "It's always been my

goal to give my students the training and foundation so that they have the ability to reach whatever dream it is they have."

Jakob Karr was unavailable for comment because of his rehearsal schedule prior to this week's show.

For more information about Shooting Stars call 407-905-4922.