Melyssa Smith, a Langley dancer, is participating in the U.S. Northwest Regional competitions and her awards are piling up.

She won platinum-level awards for both “5 Secrets,” an open piece that combines more than one dance style, and “I Dreamed A Dream” from Les Miserables, a lyrical piece at the Rainbow National Dance Competition on Jan. 17.

She also received a “Dancer of the Year” award, including a hoodie and an invitation to compete for DOY at nationals.

First Place High Point Winner, the highest score of all the senior-age dancers — 15 to 19 — was awarded to Smith at the Showbiz National Talent Competition’s regional event, Feb. 1, where she earned Double Platinum Ruby awards for both her solos.

Langley photographer Michael Stadler’s portrait of Smith won the Senior “Photogenic” award; she took Miss Showbiz first runner-up, and she won a full scholarship to an Extreme Intensive workshop and a $50 scholarship to nationals.

Smith had a weekend full of classes at the Nuvo NW Regional Convention and competition, Feb. 7-9, where she took Gold for “5 Secrets”. Classes were taught by world-famous dancers/choreographers, including Travis Wall from the television show “So You Think You Can Dance” and Kenny Wormald, star of the movie “Footloose”.

Most recently on Feb. 23, Smith won the highest level possible — “Lightning Gold” — awards for each of her solos at Thunderstruck Dance Productions northwest regionals in the advanced “Rock Star” level, plus won the third-place high-point award for all soloists across all genres of dance, and was given one of only three full-tuition scholarships to nationals.

Smith competes as an independent and trains at Island Dance in Langley, plus Metropolitan Gymnastics and Allegro Performing Arts Academy in Kent, Wash.

Local opportunities to see her perform her competition pieces are limited this year and as yet unconfirmed, but may include Youth in Arts Thursday, May 1, at WICA.