I'm 16 years old and was with the Janice D. Holst School of Dance for 10 years. I started at 5 years old in the Creative Dance class. The next year I began Pre-Ballet and added Jazz and Tap classes. (It's important to make Ballet the main activity, because it strengthens the muscles that are used in any of the other dance classes.) When I turned 12, I earned my first pair of pointe slippers. After that I spent my Saturdays assisting Mrs. Holst with the younger children after my classes were over. During the fall and winter, my Saturdays begin with my Ballet class at 8:30 a.m., Tap at 9:15, and helping out the rest of the day until 5:30 p.m. Since I was homeschooled, Dance was my Physical Education activity. (One semester I put in 265 hours between class time, shows, competitions and practice!) Some of the fun things we did were to put on shows for the people at the Pioneer's Home, St. Ann's Nursing Home, the local malls and Marine Park in downtown Juneau. We also dance at intermissions during the Gold Medal Basketball games and during the High School Dance Drill Team shows. In the fall we performed dances and skits for the local schools during Mrs. Holst's annual campaign of "Dancers Against Drugs". Every year just before Christmas we would put on a huge show at the high school called the "Grumpsicle" which has a different theme every year. During Summer Dance Academy we produced a play to which the public was invited. See my "Shows" page for pictures of these events.
Mrs. Holst and I at the studio right after my mom
finished sewing the ribbons on my pointe slippers |
My friend and dancemate, Aszli Skrzynski (at left) and I at the barre. |
Dancemate Jessie Crites holds me up so I can fly! |
We take a break from working on our Grumpsicle routines.
L to R are Kayla Parker, Kayla Brandner, Jamie Courtney, myself, Amanda Endicott and Aszli Skrzynski. |
My first professional dance photos were taken earlier this year
by Jacalyn Greene of "Smiles Across the Miles" in Juneau. |
Some great dance links!
Curtain Call Costumes
- Costume paradise! (your teacher will have to order for you)
The Costume Page - Lots of links to dance shops and costumers.
Pepthreads - Dancewear and cheering costumes
Discount Dance Supply - Their catalog has much more than is shown on their site; everything you need for all types of dance. Variety of leos in lots of colors, warm up pants and leggings, slippers and dance shoes, dance bags, and those great shorts with "dance" on the back.
Satin Stitches - A company who will design and make you a unique costume
Kelle - Some pretty good costumes here
Watercolour Dancewear - Very pretty colors painted on sheer fabrics
New York City Ballet
American Ballet Theatre
~CONTESTS~
To begin with, your dance teacher will have to enter you into regional preliminaries in order to qualify---
Access Broadway, Inc.
"Showstopper" American Dance Championships
Dance Educators of America - Our dance team qualified in 2002 for the Las Vegas Nationals and received a gold for tap and three silvers for our tap, ballet and hip hop routines.
L.A. Dance Magic
Starbound National Talent Competition
International Dance Challenge
Applause Talent
Hall of Fame Dance Challenge
More about dance and the Grumpsicle show.