Downtown Washington’s Centerstage Dance Company earned several high marks at the Star Talent 2014 National Dance Competition in Myrtle Beach in July.

However, Dance Works Performing Arts Center teaches young women not only about dance, but to grow as people.

“We spend a lot of time together and we become part of a family,” said LeAnne Jones-Braly, director of Dance Works Performing Arts Center. “They take classes Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays. Thursday is devoted to our dance company.”

During those Thursday dance lessons, Jones-Braly teaches and fine tunes the girls’ skills and techniques, she said.

“We try and work together and at the end of the day it’s all about enjoying it,” Jones-Braley said. “And loving to dance.

“We just had some kids graduate this year and they are moving on, and they are going to continue dancing and that is going to be their career,” Jones-Braly said. “Just to see them love it that much is the best thing in the world.”

During the July national competition, Dance Works Performing Arts Center was among 655 entries participating in the competition and the group earned four first place awards.

To go along with their first-place honors, Centerstage’s senior dance company won platinum for all seven of the dance entries. Centerstage’s junior dance company entered one dance, “It’s a Hardknock Life.” This large group received a platinum award for its first-place effort in character category, and sixth place overall.

The troop also had seven solos at the national show and received several high marks with three gold and three platinum awards. All the soloist performance placed in the top 10 of the competition.

“It was four days of competition and it’s something that we practiced an entire year for,” Jones-Braly said. “All the girls got on stage and did their best and it showed at the end of the day, and they totally love it.”

Dance Works Performing Arts Center is located at 149 N. Market St. in Washington.