Catching Up With the Cover Models

It’s been five years since DS kicked off its annual Cover Model Search contest. We’re so proud to report that the finalists and winners have since had a ton of dance success! Here’s what they’re up to now.

April Giangeruso

Winner, 2006: Member of the corps de ballet at American Ballet Theatre

Paula van Oppen

Finalist, 2006
: Featured dancer in Burlesque, which hit theaters in November

Maci Cameron

Winner, 2007
: Performed in Emily Shock’s “Find Me To Forgive” at the 2010 Capezio A.C.E. Awards

Brooke Shepherd

Finalist, 2007
: Dancer in Jay-Z’s “On to the Next One” video; dancer on Lifetime’s “Your Mama Don’t Dance”; dancer for Tyler Shamy

Sara Michelle Murawski

Finalist, 2007
: Dancer with Dresden Semperoper Ballet in Germany

Amanda Viereck

Winner, 2008
: Sophomore at Seton Hall University majoring in biology; member of both the dance team and cheer squad

Madison Keesler

Finalist, 2008
: Corps de ballet member at San Francisco Ballet

Lee Gumbs

Finalist, 2008
: Freshman at Marymount Manhattan College and member of Rasta Thomas’ Bad Boys of Dance

Ida Saki

Winner, 2009
: Freshman at New York University, Tisch School of the Arts; 2010 U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts winner

Nicole Knudson

Finalist, 2009
: Performed as a backup dancer with Kanye West on “Saturday Night Live” in October

Kamille Upshaw

Finalist, 2009
: Senior at Juilliard; attended the Springboard dance program in Montreal, Quebec, studying with Margie Gillis and Sylvain Emard; performed at NYC’s Fall for Dance Festival in October in a piece by Larry Keigwin

Alexa Anderson

Winner, 2010
: Performed in Jaci Royal’s Beneath the Surface show in NYC; performed in Misha Gabriel and Teddy Forance’s “Bulletproof,” which was the second runner-up at the 2010 Capezio A.C.E. Awards

Emily James

Finalist, 2010
: Freshman at Wake Forest University; member of the Wake Forest Dance Company

Patricia Zhou

Finalist, 2010
: Senior at the Kirov Academy in Washington, D.C.; competed at the Beijing International Ballet Invitational in October

It’s your last chance to apply for the 2011 Cover Model Search! Upload your best solo video at
dancemedia.com before December 31 for your shot at next year’s cover.