A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes....

I feel like this past week has gone by in slow motion and like I'm walking around in a gaze. That's probably because I still haven't fully recovered and caught up on all of my sleep from our dance team trip to Orlando, FL. We went, we competed, we rocked....however we didn't make finals :( BUT......that's ok!!! Why?!?!?! Because my girls were AWESOME!!! I have never seen them dance with more passion and energy. We were in a tough semifinals group and I really feel that if we had been in the other group then we would have gone on to the next round. Every dance before us was the same....cookie cutter, happy, cheesy, lots of glitz.....and then there was my team. Black, plain, dark, deep, depressed....but refreshing! Our dance was so different from the others....as soon as our music came on, the crowd went silent. We performed at the Indiana Jones Theater, at Hollywod Studios, and there were hundreds of people there. Everyone literally stopped what they were doing just to watch us....what a great feeling! By the time our dance ended you could have heard a pin drop. The girls came off stage so excited and I was basically in tears because I had never seen them dance better. They were unbelievable!! I thought for sure that they would breeze into finals....the girls watched their video and were all so happy!! While backstage and walking back to my spot in the audience, I had several coaches, from across the nation, compliment me on my girls and on the choreography ( I was offered 4 choreography jobs...cool)!! Unfortunately, during finals announcements our school's name was not called. I was disappointed and I now the girls were too but to be honest....I wouldn't have changed a thing about their performance. Every girl went out there and danced to their fullest potential and they left everything out on the stage and to me....that's all that matters. They did the best they could! We made an impact on our audience and isn't that what dance is about? Here's the link to their jazz performance. Next year....we'll be finals....we were so close this year ;) So proud of my girls!! Though we didn't make finals we did get to have some fun times at the parks...all in all a very successful trip and one that I wouldn't trade for the world.

That's my name!!!!

Fireworks over the Castle at the Magic Kingdom :)

Just because we're in FL doesn't mean we can't condition ;)

Good morning practice/ run/ conditioning....

Ahhhhhh.......

The above picture is quite scary but represents my state of mind for this past week.....STRESSED! Not a "bad" stress just an "I'm so busy I don't know what to do with my self" kind of stressed. Brian and I are in the process of moving and packing has taken up the majority of our time this week. It has been tough and we are the king and queen of procrastination....I mean, after working all day who really wants to come home and pack for hours?!?!?! We certainly don't!!! On top of the craziness that comes along with packing we are both going out of town this weekend, to watch some of my dance students at a competition (one of them being my sister)! Next week is work, work,work, unpack,unpack,unpack,work,work and then fly to Orlando. I bet you're thinking....oooooohhhhh Orlando.....sunshine, Disney, Mickey Mouse, magic and princesses. When I think of Orlando I become anxious, nervous, excited and a bit crazy! I'm taking my dance team girls, from Lafayette High School, to go compete at UDA's National Dance Team Competition. We have been working and preparing for this moment since July! It has consumed all our lives for months and we have all sacrificed so much time and energy and it all comes down to next weekend. Needless to say....I've been running around like a chicken with my had cut off for the past few days trying to stay somewhat organized. And poor Brian was planning on coming with me to help support my team but he has a long month ahead of him since he is on call for the majority of February.

I'm thankful to have so much going on and plenty of things to keep me busy but it sure does get crazy!! Ok, back to packing, laundry, getting dance stuff together,etc,....The list goes on and on and on and on and on and on..............

Enjoy your weekend :)

Let's Go Generals!

So proud to report that my girls received 1st place this past weekend and I was awarded with the Best Choreography award. I can not be any happier for my girls and for all of their hard work. They had one of the highest scores out of the ENTIRE day!!

Way to go Lafayette Generals!!!! Looking forward to our next competition :)

Y'All Ready for This?!?!?!

We're ready for this!!! "This" being the Winter Jam Dance Competition that is being held here in Lexington, KY. My dance team girls have been working EXTREMELY hard this week and the hard work continues until Saturday.

This past summer, we qualified for UDA nationals. This will be held the first weekend in February and we started our two routines in September. We are competing one of our dances, for the first time, this weekend at a local competition. I am anxious to see how we do and to get the judges opinion on our routine. The girls usually compete a pom routine but when I signed on as coach I felt it was time for a change so we are taking a jazz and hip hop dance. This Saturday we will be competing our jazz dance.

This dance is....well....I guess the best word to describe it is.....unique. But....in a good way!! I choreographed the dance myself and of course I just can't help myself and I turn it into some bizarre dance with crazy music and with a crazy concept. But....that's what I hope will help my girls stand out. This is not your average, cookie cutter dance team!! These girls are here to leave a mark and to tell a story. Isn't that what dance is all about....expressing emotions and telling a story to captivate your audience??? That's how I grew up and that's what I hope to pass on to my students. Dance isn't just a bunch of movements thrown together ( well, it can be). To me, it's so much more than that and I'm looking forward to my team's first performance of this routine.

I'm keeping certain details to myself such as song choice, costumes, and choreography. I can't give all our secrets away!!! Maybe I'll post a video before we leave for nationals....don't want other teams getting any ideas right now ;)

Keep us in your thoughts and prayers this week. I'm praying all the girls stay healthy and confident this week and perform to the best of their ability this Saturday.

I can't wait to report back about how we did!!!!