Dance Overdose

I am so thankful for my job and beyond grateful that I have been given the opportunity to do something that I really LOVE each and every day. I’m surrounded by sweet kids who share the same passion as I do and I’m surrounded by life long friends who support and truly care for one another…..but lately I have been suffering from a dance overdose!!

It has been non-stop for the past month! I’ve gone from competitions (DESOD and dance team) to dance team tryouts, planning a dance team banquet, rehearsals for DESOD’s recital, DESOD’s 4 night recital, to choreographing 4 routines for another high school in KY (2 hours away….4 hours round trip!!!), choreographing 3 new solos for my students who are going to Governor’s School for the Arts (so proud and excited for them), help a Miss Ky contestant and a JR. Miss contestant, choreograph my own dance team’s camp routine (this is where we qualify for nations…eeek!), edit music for all above dances…..and do this all while trying to keep the house clean, have the laundry done (this has not been successful!), spend quality with my hubby, take care of the dogs, have down time with my family and spend time in His Word each day ( He is the only thing that gives me the strength and motivation each day….)…..to be honest…..I’m a bit exhausted!

But….at the end of the day…..it’s rewarding to know that you’ve made a difference in someone’s life or helped out another dance coach who is in her first year (which was me last year), made a new friend or created new memories with your old ones J

I have however started my official countdown to our family vacation…15 DAYS!! Can’t wait to have this time with my husband, mom and sister!

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....

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!!!!