Local teen reaches finals of TV dance competition
By Angela Randazzo Special to the Acorn

Mariah and JaLeen Murphy

Simi resident Mariah Murphy's dance moves are getting big-time exposure.

The 15-year-old is in the finals of the live-action television series "Dance Revolution," a dance competition airing Saturday mornings on CBS.

"It's a morning show mainly focused on getting kids off the couch and dancing with us," Mariah said. "It's a cute show if you want to see some young talent."

The new program, which was added to the CBS lineup in September, was inspired by a hit video game that requires users to move their feet in order to succeed.

Mariah is hoping her participation in the show will play a part in her own success.

"I thought it was a great opportunity because no matter if you won or lost they would give you a scholarship toward college," Mariah said. "It was a chance for me to further my talent and dance."

This first season of "Dance Revolution" began taping in August and finished not long after.

Mariah knows the results of the show but can't reveal the winner.

The final episode is scheduled to air in about two weeks, she said.

DANCE LIFE- When she's not strutting her stuff on TV, Mariah Murphy dances competitively for Thousand Oaks High School.

The show begins with 32 contestants. Teamed in duos, the dancers perform a hip-hop dance with a jazz twist using their own creative choreography.

One resident judge and two guest judges, often former child actors on the Disney Channel, evaluate the contestants, eliminating two dancers each week.

Having advanced to the finals, Mariah has a good shot at Dance Revolution's top prize: a $20,000 scholarship. All competitors receive a scholarship of at least $200, and they can win more depending on how far they advance.

"Everyone is a winner. We all get a scholarship depending on how far you've progressed," Mariah said. "I've gotten to the point, if I don't win the grand prize, I'll get $2,000 for making it this far."

Mariah's parents, JaLeen and Michael Murphy, have lived in Simi Valley for 16 years. Her brother Mickey, 18, is a star wrestler at Simi Valley High, and her brother Shane, 13, is a seventhgrader at Valley View High School. Her sisters, Brooke, 11, and Kayleen, 8, both attend Township Ele m e n t a r y School. A talent for dance runs in Mariah's family. JaLeen Murphy started the dance program at Thousand Oaks High School, where Mariah is a sophomore.

"Mariah is a spitfire personality, loud and funny, extremely happy and bubbly," her mother said.

In addition to taking dance classes at TOHS, Mariah studies at the California Dance Theater in Agoura Hills.

She's performed in numerous recitals since she started dancing at age 4, won the title of "Petite Miss" in a regional Dance Masters of America competition and danced in the musical "Annie" at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.

"The best thing about being a dancer is that it's fun," Mariah said. "You can wear your heart on your sleeve and show your emotions."