Dance, Dance, Dance!!!

This last week has definitely been a fun and exhausting weekend as far as dance goes. It all started on Thursday night when Misty and I headed down to the Badgerette Review in Ephraim. Our coach Kathleen Pili, who has been the drill coach for 24 years, sent all the past Badgerettes a ticket to come and watch her last review. It was so much fun seeing past team members, Kathleen and her family.
The highlight of the entire review was when Kathleen & the Dynamos (Merilee and Margie) did a dance number. Snow College was by far the funnest experience that I have had in my dance and college time. Had it not been for my big sis Misty and one of my best friends Rachelle I probably would have never had the chance to experience Snow. You see I always wanted to be just like Misty so when she and Rachelle's older sister Marcie danced at Snow College together Rachelle and I decided to make a pact to be just like them. From 7th grade on we knew that we were going to go to Snow College and be on the Badgerettes just like our older sisters!!!
Misty went with us to our first try-out and cheered us on. (I can still remember that day so clear,even the part when she stole the pen from a subway drive through and decided she needed to return it. She started reversing and actually backed her car into a little pylon and almost the building...haha) Anyways the Badgerette Review was so much fun, we stayed until 11:30 just talking and reminiscing about old times!!!


Friday started the Spanish Fork, Can't Stop Dancin' Competition. This was the first time I was able to see the Solo's that the studio girls have been doing for months now. I must say they represented the studio so well. The girls ended up taking 1st and 2nd places and we even had some BIG time winners. My niece Delilah ended up winning the HUGE 6 foot trophy for the Overall High Point Award in the Mini's category and Katie Foote won the Junior overall High Point Award as well. This is the best that you can do at a competition.

I just have to take a second and go off on a tangent and be an emotional aunt... It seems like it was just yesterday when my sister Ronnett brought home and adopted Delilah. She was an overweight little girl who's parents were heavily into drugs and alcohol. Her and her little brother didn't talk much but whenever you passed a fast food restaurant they knew what it was and could say the name. Ronnett seriously saved these kids lives. They were so neglected and didn't truly have any understanding of what a loving family was. Ronnett got Delilah into Ultimate Dance and Delilah soon became the little girl that Misty always wanted for herself. Misty has been choreographing solos for her now for three years in hopes that Delilah would win that six footer. Delilah even had a dream that she was going to win that trophy as well. So to say the least when they called her name as the overall winner we were all jumping up and down screaming!!!! It was a really emotional night for me driving home Friday thinking about her standing up on the trophy pedestal. To think that if Ronnett hadn't opened up her heart and home to this little girl that this dream may have never come true. Just to think about all the happiness that she brings to all of us, how could a parent turn their backs on that? But all things do happen for a reason and I am sure glad it did because then we would not have been able to be a part of this beautiful girls life!Saturday is when all of our teams got to perform. Although it was very stressful (dances were happening in both the gym and auditorium at the same time so both Misty and I had to get these girls on the floor while having the next one lined up to go while in different places) it ended up being an awesome day for both Ultimate Dance and Rockwell. Ultimate Dance took mostly 1st and 2nd places and ended up winning Mini Overall Grand champs, Junior 2nd place overall Champs, Teen 2nd Place overall Champs, and Mini overall High Point award.(Winning a 6 foot Trophy!). AWESOME!!!!Rockwell Ended up taking 1st places in all three of their routines and even won the teen intermediate amateur 1st place overall high point trophy for their lyrical routine. It's awesome to think that most of these girls have never competed before and they are performing and keeping up with girls that have been doing this their whole life. They make me look good! I have to say that I am one lucky coach.
Lastly I just have to say that I am so thankful for the talent that I have been blessed with. Dance has truly lifted me up and brought me out of some of the lowest points in my life. Thank you Misty for being such an amazing Role Model for me and inspiring me to be the best teacher possible. Fact of the matter is that I have always strive to be just like you and you have led me to so many great things. Without you I would not have been able to be part of such an Amazing studio and so many amazing girls life's. I also would never have embarked on the coaching job at Rockwell. You are an amazing sister and role model! Sure Do Love and Appreciate You!

What a week...

This week has been so full of excitement and huge accomplishments. Because there was so much that happened this is going to be quite the lengthy blog, but too much has happened to make short.

First off, the week started off not so great. I woke up feeling pretty crappy on Wednesday and actually showed up to drill team about an hour late. I started feeling progressively worse through out the day so made and appointment to the doctors. Come to find out not only was I battling the mono that I was diagnosed with two weeks earlier, but now I have an inner ear infection, strep throat and bronchitis. Not to mention the doctor thinks I have scoliosis. I knew there was no time to rest this weekend so I just put on my big girl pants and worked through it the best I could. I’m not feeling much better today; I think I have completely over done it, but sleeping in until 12:30 this afternoon definitely helped.

Friday was the Rockettes Mini Drill performance. This year for our drill team fundraiser we held our first annual mini drill clinic. The girls were AMAZING! They handled over 80 girls under the age of 12 so well. This fundraiser was a bigger success then we could have ever imagined. We earned over $2,000!!! This money will go to pay for all of our competition fees this year. The parents were so thrilled seeing their little girls perform. Surprisingly the dance looked pretty good. Way to go ROCKETTES on a job well done.

Saturday was definitely a day of excitement. The day started off with the Thanksgiving Point Competition. Kaden and Abby, Ultimate Dance Etc and Rockwell Drill were there to compete. Kade and Abby were so much fun to watch! Sadly I had never seen them perform before. Miss Abby got up there and did her thing. She was so confident and just shined! All I know is that in a couple of years that girl is going to be AMAZING and will be winning some big trophies. Kade was also so cute; he is quite the hip hop dancer. I had seen him do stalls and stuff around the house before but he really knows how to put on a show for the crowd. It’s sad to think he wants to just do sports next year because he is such a good dancer. But no matter what the boy does he’s a natural!

Being the first competition of the year Misty and I were so excited, but unsure of what the day would hold. All the Ultimate teams did really well and took 1st and 2nd places in every routine. The studio even won high point and studio overall trophies in the Novice and Beginning levels. Misty walked away that day with 4 OVERALLS!!! I am so proud of her she is such an amazing teacher and studio owner. Every year we win more and more. We always say we don’t know how we are ever going to out do the year before but things just keep getting better and better. Thanks Misty for letting me be a part of the success!

Like I said before the Rockettes also competed. I have to be honest I was a little surprised that they took 1st place in all their dances. The girls were so stressed about such a small space to perform (keep in mind they dance on a gym floor not a stage everyday) in and really let it affect their performance. Don’t get me wrong the dances looked good but not as good as I have seen them. After their last dance I told them they could leave as there was championship game going on at Rockwell. Sadly I told them I didn’t think we would be winning an overall because I didn’t think their dances looked good enough. So everyone left with the exception of Taylor. To my surprise when they did the awards they called me up to the stage to accept an overall award for our “King of New York” dance. It was such an amazing feeling standing up on that stage next to Misty accepting an overall for not only our studio but for Rockwell as well. Being a first year coach at a first year school with a first year team I have to say I am pretty happy. Thanks girls for working so hard.

After the competition was over we texted the principal, Mr.Beck, who was at the State Championship Basketball game for Rockwell, he was so proud of the girls. We decided that we should go back to the school to show off the trophies and to support the basketball team. When we got to the school the girls ran into the gym with the trophies and gave Mr. Beck a huge hug. They honored the girls and their accomplishment at the game. It was so neat to see the staff, administration and basketball players come out and hug and congratulate the girls. It felt so good as a coach to see this, word can not even describe the feeling. The Rockwell basketball team went on to win the 2009 State Championships. These boys are not only quite the athletes but such good sports. There was a lot of drama at the game and they handled it all so well. Their show of sportsmanship said a lot for our school. What a great day for Rockwell!!!!