Kristina Shad Khristina Shad, an Agoura High School sophomore, captured first place in the California State PTA Reflections competition for her choreographed dance piece that embodied the event’s theme this year, “Together We Can.”

Khristina collected her top prize at the California State PTA convention in Long Beach from April 28 to May 1. The dance will advance to the national Reflections competition, said Laura Leininger, president of Agoura High School Arts Parent/Teacher/ Student Association.

The Reflections program is National PTA program that encourages children to explore art in all its forms. Students in all grade levels are eligible to compete in the competition by submitting entries of original musical compositions, literature, dance, video production, photography and visual arts.

Kristina said the purpose of the dance is to tell a story.

“It’s basically just about a girl who didn’t want help, but she really needed it,” she said. “The boy wanted to help me through everything. I realized I needed help in the end.” The “boy” in the dance was portrayed by Dylen Ptacek, an Agoura High sophomore.

Kristina has been a dancer since she was 4 years old when she started lessons at Retter’s Academy of Dance in Agoura Hills. In addition to winning the state Reflections contest, Kristina dances on the Disney show, “Sonny With a Chance,” which she described as a “show within a show” about high school students.

“I owe everything to them,” Kristina said about the dance academy teachers Linda and Darryl Retter. She is also a dancer with the Moho Productions, an offshoot of Retter’s school, and works with teen artists on a radio program that features teen singers.

Dance takes up most of Kristina’s week. She dances six days per week and says she loves how dance allows her to “escape what’s going on in the world.”

Although Kristina aspires to become a professional dancer, she’s considering studying veterinary medicine in college.

Candy Shad, Kristina’s mother, said it’s typical for her daughter to want to participate in so many activities.

“I’m very, very proud of her,” the mother said. “She’s going for everything,” she said. “She can do it.”

As for the big win last weekend in Long Beach, Kristina said she was “shocked.”

“I didn’t know how many people were competing,” she said. “It was something I did for fun.”

Kristina was presented with a plaque when she won first place in the district competition, and was awarded a $100 savings bond from Wells Fargo at the state ceremony. The California PTA is expected to post Kristina’s dance on its website as an example to students entering the competition next year.

Details of the national competition have not yet been released.