The only high school in Utah accepted in to the National High School Dance Festival, and one of the few public schools accepted to perform through "blind adjudication review!"
Mrs. Krista Di Lello: (PDC Artistic Director, LPHS Dance Educator) |
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This was kind of a big thing! OK, HUDGE!
The National High School Dance Festival only happens every other year, and this year it was at Point Park University in Pittsburg! There were high schools in attendance from across the nation and beyond, including Taiwan, Australia, Canada, and more! We were one of the few "regular" public high schools accepted in to the festival, and we were only accepted in due to our choreography adjudication submission. This festival was waitlisted (by thousands of students) since the summer, and we were desperately awaiting results from the "blind adjudication review"--which means that the university dance professors/dance professionals who where adjudicating the dances did not know which dances were from which schools, public, charter, or fine arts. We submitted the max pieces we could, with 3 student choreography dances and 2 professional choreography dances. We were told the competition was abnormally tough this year, especially due to the location and fine arts high schools.
Great News- We Got In! We were informed that Alex's (Mary Alexis McAllister, our PDC President) student choreography was accepted! This meant we were off the waitlist and we could go to the festival! Her piece included the use of video! Alex filmed parts and sections of her piece on our class ipads in various locations, such as from the catwalk, outside, and even with paint! She later "choreographed" the video together to fit with the music and match the dancing the dancers would do on the stage in front of the projected film. Because of her use of technology/film in her choreography, the festival announced that there will be a new category for dance film, aka 'screendance' in the next festival! I, Mrs. Di Lello was asked to help put together adjudication criteria for judging screendance submissions too. Cool eh? Lone Peak's Performing Dance Company is paving the way for technology and fim-integrated dance at the festival! (On a side-note, Screendance is becoming very popular, as there are Screendance festival across the world, and even at the UofU students can get a Screendance Certificate in their 2 year program).
Even though we had 5 PDC students go, it was a lifechanging and eyeopening educational experience! We were pleasured to see the professional New York company David Parson's Dance Company perform in person at the opening ceremonies! Wow! The solo was "Caught" choreographed in 1982 was mind-blowing with the choreographed use of strobe lights syncronized to make the dancer look like he was floating in the air.
The festival offered 2-3 performances each day, as well as hundreds of classes in all styles of dance taught by professionals, such as teachers from Jeoffrey Ballet, Parsons Dance, and more. Mrs. Di Lello was asked to teach 2 "contact improvisation" classes that the students loved! The first day also offered scholarship auditions to university dance programs, summer programs, and companies. Alex and Abby took advantage of the 2+ hour audition and had a great learning experience. The dance talent is immense! It was also great to see the student choreography showcased at the festival and for our dancers to see the caliber of choreography peers their own age is doing. It was also great for the dancers to be exposed to concert dance and dance art, as dances performed were longer than the typical competition 2 minute pieces. I want to say cudos to the students who performed pieces 12+ minutes long, and performing classical repetory pieces by famous ballet and modern choreographers.
When this National Festival comes around again in 2 years, you can count Lp's PDC will be submitting works again. We count on the fact that through our innovations and creativity we can have a chance to perform at the festival. This is such a great experience and chance to open dancers to what colleges and the professional dance art world has to offer, like ADF (American Dance Festival) and ACDFA (American College Dance Festival and Adjudication). Dance Arts is different than competition dance where there are festivals where choreography and dancers are adjudicated against themselves at a level of excellence, rather than against each other for places/ratings/trophies. In Utah we are lucky to have this same experience at the "State High School Dance Festival" sponsored by the Utah Dance Education Organization (UDEO) each year, which also gives out Meritorious Choreography Awards and potential university recruitments and scholarships!
"Go Dance Education!"
Mrs. Andrea McAllister (PDC Chaperone and BYU Dance Professor)
Attending the National High School Dance Festival (NHSDF) held at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA this past March was a such a privilege and neat opportunity. The fact that Lone Peak High School was one of a select few public high schools attending among private high schools and performing arts academies was such an honor. In fact, Lone Peak High School was the only school representing the state of Utah at the NHSDF. The dancers from Lone Peak were selected to attend the festival based on the fact that the adjudicators were impressed with the innovative student choreography by Alexis McAllister that incorporated the use of video and dance together in both indoor and outdoor settings. Inspiration for her piece entitled "Sonder" came from an artist by the name of Andy Goldsworthy who works specifically with creating art using temporal materials to reflect the world we live in. He says; "It's not about art. It's just about life and the need to understand that a lot of things in life do not last." Dr. Kathryn Kearns, Executive Director and Founder of the NHSDF, as well as the NHSDF committee was impressed by the choreography and the video integration so much that they are creating a new adjudication section that will include videography as part of the presentation which will be part of the festival within the next two years.
Although Lone Peak dancers were adjudicated among some of the most technically strong dancers, dancers who are in technique and art based classes all day long, every day; the dancers from Lone Peak demonstrated skills and a uniqueness and maturity in creativity that many other dancers lacked, skills that they have gained from taking class from their teacher and director, Krista DiLello. All of the dancers at the festival had the opportunity to take classes for three days from master educators from different universities and high schools throughout the country as well as professional dance companies such as David Parsons. Classes not only included instruction in ballet, contemporary, jazz and hip-hop, but also included diverse forms such as African, Flamenco, Balinese and Folk dance. Students had the opportunity to participate in contact improvisation and composition classes as well as Bartenieff fundamentals, Laban Movement Analysis, Pilates, Yoga, massage, nutrition classes, etc. Mrs.DilLello was one of many teachers who taught classes during the festival, however students flocked to her contact improvisation class and enjoyed it so much they requested a second class. It was amazing to have so many incredible opportunities all in one place.
Another great opportunity was there for those dancers who were seniors, wishing to continue with dance in college. College recruiters and representatives as well as professional dance company directors were there to watch them audition and offer positions and/or scholarships to their programs. It truly was an amazing opportunity for these students from Lone Peak HS to attend this festival.
Going to the National High School Dance Festival was an experience I will never forget. Having the opportunity to take master classes, audition for scholarships, and perform for and watch other dancers who share the same passion as you was such a growing point in my dance journey. I hope to go on with dance as either a career or just a job in the future so I can continue expressing myself the way I love to and going to NHSDF was a great way to expose myself to the possibilities that are out there for dancers and choreographers! There were only positive growing experiences for me as I went to the Festival and I'm sure that majority of other passionate dancers would feel the same. I'm so grateful that we were able to even be granted the invitation to come to NHSDF from the hard work we put into our dance piece, the brilliant choreographer who created it (Alex McAllister), and the motivating, inspiring and wonderful instructor we had that did so much for us to get there! Love you Krista!!!
The only thing I would like to leave you with is the advice to go through that opened door of opportunity if you are given it. You'll only regret an experience if you miss it, or if you look at it from the wrong perspective. Also, try new things and understand that it's ok to be uncomfortable! You might even find out more about the person you are from trying something new and different out... I sure did!
Nationals opened my eyes to new things, taught me lots that I didn't know before, grew me closer to my team (who came), made me appreciate all kinds of dancing and grew my passion for the beautiful blessing of the movement of our bodies... Dance!
Alex McAllister:
All around this was a great experience. I never knew that I was capable of creating a dance that would be appreciated on the national level. So just the very fact that we were accepted into the festival because of my piece was mind blowing, especially being the only school in Utah and one of the few public schools accepted in the nation. Dancing is something I've grown to appreciate over the years, but going to this festival has completely solidified my love for it. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything.
Conner Quiring:
What I learned at Nationals is you can never stop progressing. I come from a back ground of football, and other contact sports and didn't start dancing until last year. I have learned that there is never to much you can do. The only thing that limits you is your excuse that "there isn't enough time" or "I'm too tired." There is always enough time to do what you love. Some one told me this "you have 8 hours of sleep 8 hours of work and 8 hours of play." so there is plenty of time in a day to learn something and to experience something new everyday. Plus, dance has helped me become a better all around athlete.
Malori Pratt:
I learned a lot at the National High School Dance Festival this year. There were a lot of talented dancers there from all over the country and even kids from Australia, Bermuda, and Thailand. We got to watch a professional company from New York and see a lot student choreography.
There were so many different styles of dance to learn while we were there. Some styles I had never even heard of before. We had the opportunity to take classes from teachers all across the nation, all in different styles of dance. It was really interesting to see what different people from different places had to offer. Even the kids that came were all so talented in so many different areas and I made a lot of new friends. It was definitely an experience I'll never forget.
Josh Ahlstrom:
Pittsburg is a place to remember. From the antique corner stores to the fantastic pizzerias, we were definitely cultured and spoiled, but that’s not why we were there. Lone Peak Dance Company was selected, chosen to participate in the NHSDF (national high school dance festival). But you already knew this. I want to talk about our experiences on this trip that made it so memorable and downright awesome. This festival was so crazy different than anything i've ever been to. Everything was so diverse and fun: the people, dance classes, and teachers were experienced, knowledgeable and amazingly talented. We all learned so much! I learned principles of hard work, dedication, letting go, trying new things, and working with others, but one of the biggest things I learned is I can do hard things. This was my first time doing something this enormous and important. I was scared, nervous, and excited but I wondered if I would be able to keep up with all the amazing dancers there. I didn’t think I was good enough but I learned that as long as I do my best, work hard and keep a positive attitude, I could excel and have fun doing it. Our team bonded in a way that would never happen anywhere else. We spent every minute together and became BEST friends. Through this trip I have new family members whom I know in a much more personal way and i'm grateful for that. All the diverse classes we took and friends we made were great. This trip was DANG FUN! I got to take classes like Traditional African Dance, Israeli Folk Dance and Contemporary Partnering and although i've never sweat so hard in my life, I enjoyed every second. Thank you Krista, Andy, and Dance Friends for a fun experience!
Malori Pratt:
I learned a lot at the National High School Dance Festival this year. There were a lot of talented dancers there from all over the country and even kids from Australia, Bermuda, and Thailand. We got to watch a professional company from New York and see a lot student choreography.
There were so many different styles of dance to learn while we were there. Some styles I had never even heard of before. We had the opportunity to take classes from teachers all across the nation, all in different styles of dance. It was really interesting to see what different people from different places had to offer. Even the kids that came were all so talented in so many different areas and I made a lot of new friends. It was definitely an experience I'll never forget.
Josh Ahlstrom:
Pittsburg is a place to remember. From the antique corner stores to the fantastic pizzerias, we were definitely cultured and spoiled, but that’s not why we were there. Lone Peak Dance Company was selected, chosen to participate in the NHSDF (national high school dance festival). But you already knew this. I want to talk about our experiences on this trip that made it so memorable and downright awesome. This festival was so crazy different than anything i've ever been to. Everything was so diverse and fun: the people, dance classes, and teachers were experienced, knowledgeable and amazingly talented. We all learned so much! I learned principles of hard work, dedication, letting go, trying new things, and working with others, but one of the biggest things I learned is I can do hard things. This was my first time doing something this enormous and important. I was scared, nervous, and excited but I wondered if I would be able to keep up with all the amazing dancers there. I didn’t think I was good enough but I learned that as long as I do my best, work hard and keep a positive attitude, I could excel and have fun doing it. Our team bonded in a way that would never happen anywhere else. We spent every minute together and became BEST friends. Through this trip I have new family members whom I know in a much more personal way and i'm grateful for that. All the diverse classes we took and friends we made were great. This trip was DANG FUN! I got to take classes like Traditional African Dance, Israeli Folk Dance and Contemporary Partnering and although i've never sweat so hard in my life, I enjoyed every second. Thank you Krista, Andy, and Dance Friends for a fun experience!
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| African Class |
