Carson girl chosen to dance in Italy

When 16-year-old Linsey Wegener dances her entire body gets into the energy of the music.

On Monday, it was hip hop, and the DanceSpirit studio was filled with drum beats and bass. The younger dancers stood in front of the door like chicks to watch Wegener. One girl mimicked her.

Wegener's hips twisted. Her arms arched into the air. The ink pen that she'd twisted into her brown hair to hold it up was coming out. She pulled it out while dancing and tossed it to the ground. Wegener's only 4 feet 9 inches, but while dancing she looks taller. She wore a white tank top and black dance pants. Her finger and toe nails were painted violet.

Wegener is no lightweight ballerina. This Carson City High School girl can bench squat 300 pounds. She's danced at DanceSpirit since seventh grade, for about five years. She's part of the Elite Stars team and dances six hours a day every day, except Mondays.

"It takes concentration, and you have to work real hard," Wegener said. While talking she stretched her legs into the splits. Wegener said she got her blue eyes from her dad, Gene.

Wegener is the only Nevada girl chosen to dance with the American Dance Team in Cesena, Italy. The team director scouted her out at dance competitions in Reno and Las Vegas. She was chosen for her technical ability, stage performance and decorum.

"I'll dance with the national team, which includes 30 boys and girls," she said.

Wegener needs to raise about $2,300 to get to the Prix De Italia competition from June 21-27. She hopes to raise money through grants and sponsorships.

Staci Flatness, 22, has grown close to Wegener in the last five years. She's proud of her student and will join her in Italy.

"In the studio (we have) a teacher-to-dancer relationship," Flatness said. "Out of the studio, it's friend to friend."

Sandi Scheer, DanceSpirit owner, said this is an honor her student deserves.

Contact Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.

For information on

sponsoring Linsey Wegener, contact:

DanceSpirit, 951 N. Stewart St.; call 884-1066 or go to danceSpirit@sbcglobal.net