Area dancer places in national Ms. Dance of America competition
Samantha Capriotti, 17, of Butler Township, recently became a top 10 finalist in the Ms. Dance of America 2026 competition.
Samantha is a student of Jenna Molczan Higby, owner of the Butler Center for the Performing Arts, based in Butler Township.
The competition took place July 6 through 11 in Mashantucket, Conn., and Capriotti competed in the lyrical dance solo category with a piece choreographed by Brittany Pent-Rohm. According to Molczan Higby, the contest involves an interview with judges and audition classes in tap, ballet, jazz, acrobatic and modern dance styles.
Molczan Higby also said there were about 25 different representatives in Capriotti’s division this year, whom she was able to compete among after winning Miss Dance of Pennsylvania 2026.
