Fuquay-Varina Honors National Dance Champion Jay Argenal
Leaders celebrate dancer's rise from local Nutcracker performer to 2025 Minis National Dance Honors champion, praising his talent, dedication, and community spirit.
Fuquay-Varina, NC, Aug. 5, 2025 — During its August 4 meeting, the Fuquay-Varina Board of Commissioners recognized Jay Argenal for winning the 2025 Minis National Dance Honors in Orlando, Florida. The award capped a remarkable two-year journey that began when Argenal, then new to both dance and the Fuquay-Varina Arts Center, auditioned for the community production of The Nutcracker in 2023. Since then, he has taken multiple classes, joined the competitive dance team, and advanced from local performances to national acclaim.
Arts Center Director Maureen Daly detailed Argenal’s achievement, noting he was one of just 60 dancers invited to compete in the Minis category, for dancers ages 8 to 10. “The competition went from thousands of students to hundreds to ten. Jay is one of the top ten,” Daly said, adding that after a week of auditions, workshops, and a solo performance, “Jay Argenal was named the national champ.”
Speaking at the meeting, Argenal thanked town leaders for their encouragement. “Their support has allowed me to grow as a dancer and a young man,” he said. “Town support and town dance team is essential for kids, and I hope you continue to support the program.”
Mayor Blake Massengill praised Argenal’s talent and community spirit, recalling time spent with him before the meeting. “Going to Florida and representing Fuquay-Varina and being such a great dancer… that is just something that we’re so proud of,” Massengill said. He presented Argenal with the mayor’s coin, telling him, “You’re going to keep doing great things at Fuquay-Varina.”
More information about the Fuquay-Varina Arts Center can be found here - https://www.fuquay-varina.org/1754/Arts-Center or by sending an email to Arts Center Director, Maureen Daly at mdaly@fuquay-varina.org
He’s a Holly Springs resident and loves both towns very much.