Dance by Farrah, which has locations in Elkins and Parsons, competed in the Star Dance Alliance’s World Dance Championship, with two of the studio’s dance routines placing first and third overall.

The competition, which sees dance groups from Argentina, China, France, Australia and more, took place between July 24 and Aug. 1.

“They were excited,” Farrah Farley, owner of Dance by Farrah, told The Inter-Mountain. “There’s several different countries there so it’s a really big competition. It’s the biggest thing we do the whole season. It’s very exciting when you go in because there’s lots of lights and interviews and many different things going on.”

Farley said the studio has gone to the World Championship for the past eight years, and noted a previous team won an overall first place two years ago.

Submitted photo The Dance by Farrah ‘Indiana Jones’ routine placed first overall at the competition, with the team becoming the 2024 World Dance Champions.

To be eligible to compete, you have to win a golden ticket at a regional event. Farley said all Dance by Farrah’s dance teams that compete have won a golden ticket at regionals, some at events in West Virginia and some outside, such as in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

The studio had five dance routines performing at the championship, all of which had won accolades going into the competition.

The youngest group, consisting of kindergarten and first graders and known as Cabbage Patch Kids due to their routine and costumes, placed overall in a regional competition.

The Snow Globe group, consisting of fifth graders to 12th graders, who placed first overall in several competitions, had also received multiple awards.

The Mad Scientists routine, consisting of second, third and fourth graders, had placed first overall in multiple competitions, including the Believe Talent National Championship. They were in the top 10 at the World Dance Championship and received a special Excellence in Performance award from the competition.

The Sail group, which also consists of fifth graders to 12th graders, has placed first overall in several competitions as well, including the National Championship. They placed third overall in the World Dance Championship and also received an Excellence in Execution award from the competition.

The Indiana Jones routine, also consisting of fifth graders to 12th graders, placed first overall at all regionals the studio performed in and placed first overall at Nationals, where they became Grand National Champions. At the World Championship they placed first overall, becoming the 2024 World Dance Champions.

“Very happy tears,” Farley said when asked how the girls reacted to winning first and third. “Lots of jumping up and down and many, many happy tears.”

Farley said they haven’t decided for sure if they will try to go back to the competition next year, but that they usually try to go to the World Championship.