Two young, local duos recently danced their way to several first place finishes at a pair of national competitions.

Elijah Clayton of Renton and Hannah Shinsato of Snohomish earned three first-place finishes in April’s USA Dance Championships in Baltimore, Md.

Clayton and Shinsato are 12.

The pair also waltzed and quickstepped to two first places in March, at the National Dance Council of America’s U.S. Amateur National Dancesport Championships in Provo, Utah.

Clayton and Shinsato were returning winners to that Utah competition. Last year they also won first places in Utah, and were named the Preteen syllabus champions. They moved up to the Junior Division this year.

By sambaing, waltzing and quickstepping, another local pair, Gabriel Buccino of Bellevue and Ayana Pagan of Renton also won two first places at the national Utah dancing contest. Both Buccino and Pagan are 10.

Pagan is Clayton’s sister.