The winner: Hairspray's Brooke Engen discovered that growing up on the competition circuit gave her an instant network, versatility, and confidence when she wanted to break in on Broadway.

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By any standards, real-world or competition, Brooke Engen is a winner. From trophies and titles around the nation to her current position as dance captain in Broadway's smash hit Hairspray, Brooke's career is a dancer's dream. But it's no wonder. With technical chops honed at the famed competition-machine Larkin Dance Studio in Maplewood, MN, and a sunny attitude, Brooke has had success early. And she remains gracefully approachable with an appealing giggle ending all her sentences.

At age 3, Engen and her twin sister Tiffany took their first dance class. Within four years, the two had joined the competition world. Their parents felt it would give the girls more performance opportunities while channeling the vivacious energy that kept them both constantly bopping around their home. "We were always dancing wildly to The Muppet Show on TV," Engen remembers, "so my parents put us in dance class for their sanity! At first I only wanted to be a ballerina. But after watching Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl, I knew I wanted to be performing on a Broadway stage. And competition allowed me to do it all."

Even though Engen's dreams spiraled upwards, her parents kept her grounded by reminding both sisters that dancing, not winning, was the focus. However, along the way Engen was named Miss Starpower National Finalist in 1998, as well as other titles. Traveling to competitions always started with family breakfast and confidence boosters to remind the girls to enjoy themselves. Plus, her sister's presence and their closeness allowed Brooke to feel the joy of two wins--her own and her sister's. Meeting judges, seeing exotic (to a Minnesota youngster) techniques, and bonding with like-minded kids rounded out the experience.

Right after high school, Engen left the competition stage to try her luck in New York. She's reaching even wider audiences as Doreen in the new Hairspray movie (with Tiffany as Noreen). It took eight weeks of rehearsal to drill the high-energy dance sequences, and the Toronto shoot consisted of grueling full days--even on Thanksgiving!

Engen credits the competition circuit for her stamina: "When we went to New York for the NYCDA convention we took class all day and performed at the competition at night. But, in the middle of the day when we had breaks from NYCDA, I would go to Steps or Broadway Dance Center to soak that in as well! Competition made you want to learn it all so you could do everything you saw."

Engen insists that traveling the competition circuit and watching various dancers helped her along the professional path. From partnering and pointe work to soaring leaps and tumbling, the skills and tricks learned on the way are at her disposal at auditions where anything is game. Fouettes and gymnastics that were just a part of her dance curriculum are now seen as specialty skills in shows like Phantom of the Opera and Tarzan.

"Now that I am in a professional setting, I remember my competition guidelines constantly. You have to keep up your energy and take class every day," explains Engen. "You never know what you will be asked to do in an audition, so you better be ready to do it all. I learned that early on at competitions. And competition kids are ahead of the game because of the performance factor. You have to perform in an audition, not just dance."

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Most important is Brooke's feeling of camaraderie with other competition kids. After performing with each other all over the country, Engen and her fellow dancers formed a network that has stayed connected. That same community has followed her to New York where she currently sees many of her old friends at auditions and performances. "It's wonderful to see great people succeed. And everyone I knew from competing was so talented; it's not surprising that they are now in the top ranks. With all these amazing friends from my past, you never know who will open up my next door and who I can help down the line. It's a win-win."

Happy to be in a stable Broadway gig, Engen hopes to continue on the Great White Way. "When we were were little, the competitions were just another way for us to perform. We wanted to dance anywhere. We danced in front of the TV, at community centers, old age homes--wherever we could. So as long as I can keep dancing and finding new opportunities to be onstage, I will."

Lauren Kay is a dancer and writer in NYC.