We're IN!!!!

GREAT NEWS!  We are Going to Nationals!

After being on the wait list for months to attend "The National High School Dance Festival" we received news yesterday that we are off the wait list and all set to go!  There were so many schools and dancers that registered that there was enough for two festivals!

This festival only happens every other year and rotates between Miami and Philadelphia.  This year it is a Philadelphia.  This is BIG.  Many fine arts, magnet, and charter schools attend this festival, as well as schools from Australia, Canada, Hawaii, and Europe.  There are auditions for graduating seniors during one of the days for University and summer program scholarships, as well as professional company.  One such recruiter is Julliard.

This festival is so great because it is arts based and is not competitive in the sense that there different ratings such as first, second, third place.  It helps foster talent and artistry to the highest level in our dancers.  Every single time I have taken my dance company, they have been blown away at the talent and choreographic level of other high school students their same age from across the nation.  It is good to get out of our bubble sometimes.

MORE GREAT NEWS!
We were also accepted to perform in an informal concert featuring student choreography!  Our PDC President Beth Covey's dance "Dollhouse" was accepted into this performance.  It is a huge honor to be able to perform at this festival amongst all the other amazing schools.  I usually have to tell my dancers not to expect to have any of our pieces accepted or to get their hopes up because we are just a normal public school.  Seriously, some of these other schools are so good and have original Paul Taylor or Graham works re-created on them.   THIS IS A BIG COMPLIMENT to us as dancers, performers, and choreographers!

Just because we don't focus on trophies or halftime performances does not mean we are not doing great things!  Our school's Performing Dance Company is really well known and highly thought of by all the university dance programs around Utah.

Keep up the good work dancers.   We have lots of work to do, but you are doing wonderful, and I hope you do feel recognized for your accomplishments.  STATE and NATIONALS, here we come.