Around Hopewell
Preslie Dahlke Dances Her Way to a National Title at Journey Dance Competition!
Preslie Dahlke Dances Her Way to a National Title at Journey Dance Competition
Hopewell Township’s own Preslie Dahlke has done it again—this time taking home a national title at the prestigious Journey Dance Competition in Crystal Springs, New Jersey. Held at the scenic Crystal Springs Resort, the event brought in top-tier talent from across the country, including dancers from New York, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Among 94 solos in the highly competitive 13–15 age bracket, it was 14-year-old Preslie who stood out and danced her way to the crown.
🌟 Journey Dance Nationals Highlights | Crystal Springs, NJ | July 14–18 🌟
What. A. Week. Here’s how Preslie Dahlke danced her way into the national spotlight:
✨ Title Class Kickoff (July 14)
Preslie began the week with the prestigious Title Class — where dancers are judged not only on technique, but also their character.
🩰 Solo Domination
Out of 94 solos in the Teen Advanced category (ages 13–15):
- Both of Preslie’s solos took 1st in their categories
- Received Platinum Pro adjudications
- Her contemporary solo “Vanishing Act” placed 3rd Overall!
🎤 Next Round: Title Competition
Preslie advanced to the next stage, which included:
- A live interview with the judge panel (cue the tears when she named her mom as her role model 🥹)
- An on-stage Improv LIVE round featuring 3 genres in 90 seconds — and she blew the crowd away!
👑 Mirror Ball Finale
All eyes were on the stage as dancers appeared in formal wear for the Featured Dancer awards…
- 2nd runner-up called…
- 1st runner-up called…
Then came the moment:
💫 “Your 2025 National Teen Featured Dancer will be… Miss Preslie Dahlke!” 💫
And this wasn’t just another solo win—Preslie claimed the overall teen title, a huge milestone in a dancer’s career. In fact, because of her victory, she’s now ineligible to compete for the same title next year. Why? Because once you win it, you’ve earned a year of reigning—and a spot on stage handing out the trophies at next year’s nationals.
“It’s kind of nice,” Preslie said with a smile, knowing she gets a year to enjoy the view from the top.
⸻
A Winning Performance, On and Off Stage
Preslie’s award-winning solo, choreographed by the brilliantly creative Shayla Pringle, was titled “Vanishing Act”—a hauntingly emotional contemporary piece that had her starting and ending the routine perched on the edge of the stage, hands covering her face, before locking eyes with the judges in a moment of dramatic intensity.
“The emotion she brings to the stage—it’s not just dance, it’s performance,”. “You don’t just watch her dance, you feel it.” Evident by just some of the photos taken during the event you can see that character brought to life:
Off-stage, the judges were watching too. That’s part of the title competition experience. Competitors are evaluated not only on dance technique and stage presence, but also how they handle interviews, improvisation challenges, headshots, and—most importantly—how they treat others throughout the week.
“She was being evaluated all week long,” her mom shared. “And it wasn’t just what she did on stage. It was how she carried herself, how she encouraged other dancers, how she treated her team.”
⸻
From Shy Kid to Stage Star
Despite her commanding stage presence, Preslie insists she’s naturally shy.
“I get really nervous before I go on,” she admitted. “I breathe, talk to friends, and shake it all out—literally. I shake my hands and feet to calm down.”
But once the music starts, it’s showtime.
The lyrical message of “Vanishing Act” struck a personal chord with Preslie, who says the theme of wanting to disappear and feeling lost in the crowd is something she—and probably many others—can relate to. But ironically, on the national stage, Preslie was impossible to miss.
⸻
A Studio That Feels Like Home
Preslie’s journey began at age 3 at Reach for the Stars Dance Studio, a small but mighty program based in Ambridge. The studio’s family-like environment has become a huge part of her life.
She’s trained there under the guidance of Regina Pringle, the studio director, and Shayla Pringle, Regina’s daughter and the mastermind behind many of Preslie’s competitive routines.
“Shayla is so creative. I don’t know how she comes up with all of it, but she does,” Preslie said. “She’s amazing.”
With only 29 dancers on their competitive team, Reach for the Stars may be small in size—but they’re big on talent and heart. The support Preslie received after her win, not just from her studio, but from dancers and parents across the competition, shows the deep respect she’s earned in the dance community.
⸻
No Offseason for a Champion
While most kids are soaking up their summer vacation, Preslie’s gearing up for August intensives—a four-week stretch of 20-hour dance weeks to prepare for the next competitive season.
“This is her one week off,” her mom laughed. “We’re just catching our breath.”
And while competitions don’t pick up again until February, the grind doesn’t stop. Between now and then, it’s technique, conditioning, and maybe a weekend trip to Great Wolf Lodge to squeeze in some fun before school starts.
⸻
Looking Ahead: Dreams Beyond the Stage
As Preslie enters 9th grade at Hopewell Township High School, dance remains her primary focus outside the classroom. Though she briefly holding a spot on the Hopewell cheer team, she stepped away to prioritize her training and prep for nationals.
Although just starting High School Preslie already has her eyes looking ahead, college is already on her mind. Her dream? Ohio State University, home to one of the top collegiate dance teams in the country.
“Ohio State is one of my favorites,” she said. “I watch them and I just want to be a part of that.”
Whether it’s dancing in college, performing on cruise ships, or pursuing choreography down the road, one thing is clear—Preslie Dahlke’s journey is just getting started. Hopewell Sports Nation will be there to chronical her young career and keep everyone in Hopewell posted on her successes!
⸻
Final Shoutouts
Preslie sends love to her mom, her entire dance team, and her teachers at Reach for the Stars. And for those reading from Hopewell or beyond, she encourages younger dancers to give it a try.
“Start with recreational classes,” she suggests. “See if you love it. If you do, then go for competition—it’s hard work, but it’s also really, really fun.”
Congratulations, Preslie! We’ll be watching—and cheering—every step of the way.
⸻
📸 Photos courtesy of the Emily Zabala, Larry Pringle Photography, Snap X Productions LLC and Reach for the Stars Dance Studio.
