Wonder kids: Studio One cloggers return to TV

Published 10:14 am Saturday, November 2, 2019

In August, eight members of Studio One’s Elite Power went to New York City to film a segment for a TV show called “Wonderama.”

The show will air at 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 3, on the CW. “Wonderama” is a children’s television program that originally appeared on the Metromedia-owned stations from 1955 to 1977. The show was revived from 1980 to 1987, and again in 2017.

Kelly Fithen, an owner of Studio One, said “Wonderama” producers reached out to the studio, likely having seen a clip of the team on the internet.

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The Elite members admitted they had never seen the show before but after learning they were going to be on it, they did some research. After filming, Elite member Janna Beth Winburn, 16, said she had a greater appreciation for the show, saying it reminded her of Nickelodeon. 

“It’s actually a very underrated TV show,” Winburn said. 

Elite Power has been performing together for two years. The team is a combination of members from Studio One’s Star Power and Extreme Power teams. 

“We’re doing great together,” Winburn said. “…Together… we just shake the stage.”

Star Power, which includes Elite members Sarah James, 15; Gracie Abney, 12 and Cadence Johnson, 12, was the 2017 CCA Starz National Champions, and was recently featured on “Little Big Shots.” 

The team flew to New York on Aug. 4 and spent the day sight-seeing before spending the next day filming. 

For Elite members Winburn, Jenna Dotson, 15, and Tristen Culton, 14, it was their first time being on television. 

“It was fun,” Culton said. “We got to do a lot of things in New York and that was kind of a good team bonding experience for us.”

Winburn said it was interesting to see how a TV show is made.

“I’ve always been on the other side of the screen, so this was cool,” she said. 

Dotson said it was great working with the people there. 

“They were all so very nice,” she said. 

Johnson, who had traveled to Los Angeles when filming “Little Big Shots,” said this trip was a lot different than LA; though, it was still a fun experience, especially meeting new people. 

Dotson said the team met all of the other acts on the show which included a band, a rapper and a girl who did toy reviews.

“It was cool to be in front of people who might be famous in a couple of years,” Culton said. 

Johnson said the set and stage was different and there was a bigger audience than “Little Big Shots,” so it felt more like a competition. 

For some of the girls, it was their first time traveling to New York and even travelling on a plane, which Culton said a little nerve-wracking at first.

Johnson said she and Dotson had a lot of fun on the plane, listening and dancing along to music in the early hours of the morning. 

“It was so fun traveling with your team because they’re more like a family than your friends,” Dotson said. 

Abney said spending time with her teammates throughout the trip was something she will never forget. 

“I think we got really close on that trip,” Abney said. 

James said it was especially exciting to show people what clogging is all about, especially since it’s typically considered a southern thing.

“We showed them what it was and everyone seemed to really enjoy it while we were dancing and that always makes you feel really good,” James said. 

Elite Power is also competing Saturday in Frankfort ahead of the airing and gearing up for nationals in January. 

In the meantime, the members invite everyone to watch the show Sunday so they can also see what Elite Power and clogging is all about.

The Elite members said they were thankful to have that opportunity as they are now closer than ever. 

“On stage, we’re more than just a team,” Dotson said. “We’re dancing for each other.” 

About Lashana Harney

Lashana Harney is a reporter for The Winchester Sun. Her beats include schools and education, business and commerce, Winchester Municipal Utilities and other news. To contact her, email lashana.harney@winchestersun.com or call 859-759-0015.

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