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Articles Teen Perspectives The Dance Project Experience
| The Dance Project Experience |
 I still remember the very moment I decided I wanted to make dance a huge part of my life. I was about five years old and was riding in the car with my parents on our way home from my dance recital. As we were pulling out of the parking lot I turned around in my seat and stared at the theater as we drove away. I remember thinking to myself, "I love this. I love to dance and I never want to stop."
From that moment on I have continued to dance, and with that have developed perhaps my biggest passion in life. Going on my twelfth year as a dancer, I am now sixteen years old and attend Foothill High School as a junior. I have studied dance at the Redding Dance Centre since the age of four, participated in Foothill's Club Cougar for three years, and recently have become an apprentice to Redding's local dance company, The Dance Project. Last April, before I joined The Dance Project cast, was the showing of their annual spring show. They performed Once On This Island for their 2008 program. As always, of course I wanted to attend, so my mom, grandma and I bought our tickets and were very excited to see the performance.  The show was great, and once again I fell in love with the dancers and the show. Not only had I seen The Dance Project's Cascade Christmas, several times, but I had also seen their production of Swing. I'd have to say, Once On This Island, was my turning point. As soon as we got in the car after the show I told my mom, "I want to dance with them!" Before I knew it, August had rolled around and The Dance Project auditions were here. It was time to try something new and to let my training grow with something different. Not long after the auditions, I received a call telling me that I had been cast as an apprentice for the 2008/2009 season. I was so excited, and can honestly say my excitement has stayed with me this whole time. During my very first rehearsal, I was extremely nervous...I was now in the presence of about thirteen dancers who have all been in The Dance Project for years, and are all very good performers. As I expected though, throughout the whole season everyone in the company was really helpful, fun and encouraging, and helped me through my first show with them, A Cascade Christmas.  During the Cascade Christmas production I experienced many new things. Not only dance-wise, but even down to the details of what makes a great show, like professionalism, and, a fun part: costuming! I was able to see how our costume director, Cindy, can take one idea for a costume, and the next time you see it, the costume looks completely brilliant and beautiful - her own artistic creation. And then there is my favorite part, the dancing. James's choreography is so exciting to perform. From studying with him I feel more confident about my ability to learn dances faster, and am more aware of specific stylistic details. Although I still have a lot to learn, I feel like every experience in life has a reason and serves a purpose, and I'm so glad The Dance Project is one of my life experiences. I'm excited to be participating in The Dance Project's upcoming spring show, Exposed! You may be wondering what "Exposed!" stands for...the title reflects the company's talents of singing and dancing, and it's great performance quality. The show will include dancing and singing from well-known musicals and broadways, like West Side Story, Mamma Mia and Hair. Exposed! will be a definite family-fun experience and will provide a chance for people to see great local talent, hosted by the beautiful and historic Cascade Theatre. Show dates are March 27th & 28th, and April 3rd & 4th. The Dance Project guarantees an enjoyable time, and we ALL hope to see you there! Author Sarah Leavers is a sixteen year old junior who attends Foothill High School in Palo Cedro. She currently dances with The Redding Dance Centre and the Dance Project. |
March 2010
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