Welcome Back! A note from Ms. Kathy
Welcome back!
We are excited about the
2015-2016 school year.
This past summer was fantastic! It began with our first ever musical theater camp!
Those that came learned acting, vocal, and dance technique that ended in an afternoon performance!
Next, was the sewing camp where our students learned how to follow a pattern, construct new projects, and how to sew on machine.
Everyone left at the end of this camp with several projects that they created themselves.
Twirling camp was a blast!
We hosted twirlers and majorette lines from all over the state of Alabama.
They received instruction from national instructors and our wonderful Rising Starz staff! Our staff this year included a former UGA Feature Twirler, and the Captain of the University Central Florida Majorette Line!
Some of the high school lines worked on their routines for the year. While some solo twirlers prepared for national competitions!
Twirling camp was followed by performance camp and competitive dance team camp.
We are so excited about all of the performances that are lined up for this fall season. All of our returning competitors and our new competitors are going to have so much fun dancing and twirling this next year.
We sent competitors to two separate national championships this year!
Shelby Anderson
Our dancers competed at fusion nationals
in Panama City Florida!
Pictured just above is Shelby, she is the 2015 Fusion Senior Solo National champion. And to the right is Erin, the 2015 Fusion 12 & Over Recreational Solo winner.
During the course of the weekend, our teams received
four High Gold Awards, 8 Platinums, a 3rd, a 2nd, and 5 1st overalls. Several dancers worked overtime to compete in solo and duo/trio routines.
Erin Smith with Ms. Katrina
For our solo dancers:
In the twelve and over recreational solos, Erin received a first overall. In the eleven and under intermediate solos, Makayla received a second overall. And in the twelve and over Intermediate solos, Shelby received a first overall.
Then, with our other group & duo/trio competitors: Move received a third overall, Real Love and Heart of Blue received second overall, and How Will I Know received a first overall. Fidelity was a platinum group award and first overall. Latchwas a platinum group award and second overall. Latch also received the judges award for "lines and transitions".
The Twirling academy sent Twirler's to compete at America's Youth on Parade at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.
During the course of the week, the girls had
the opportunity to explore the beautifully historic campus of Notre Dame.
Our teams that competed placed top five in the country! Here are the results from the first time we competed at the National Baton Twirling Association's National Championships:
Beginner Preteen Dance Twirl - 5th place
Beginner Junior Dance Twirl - 5th place
Junior Danceline - 4th place
Savannah Morgan-Int 19 Solo Champion
Maddie Wellbaum-Novice 14 solo-3rd place
Brittan Morgan-Novice 14 solo-5th place
Maddox Mullen-Beginner 9 strut- 2nd place
We are so proud of all of our dancers & twirlers for their hard work this year!
One of my favorite parts as the director at Rising Starz has been watching all of our different programs develop. It makes me so happy to be able to say, "we offer more than just dance". It's exciting to see our performers advance in whichever classes they choose to take!
The twirling academy has been growing for three years now. We're proud to say that we are one of the only competitive twirling teams here in Auburn. Ms. Holly and Ms. Angie and all of the other people who pour into our Twirling Academy, you know who you are, I can't express how much I appreciate you!
Last year we added classes with Miss Amber in acting and musical theater. So far, our acting students have loved building a foundation in physical theatre, understanding character / script, and stage combat! We are thrilled to have the opportunity to train our performers as dancers, singers, and actors! This year we were able to add a level 2 to those classes, plus add an additional 'Acting for the Camera' class on Thursday nights.
So, if you know any kids you want to train to be on TV and work for Disney or Nickelodeon, tell them about the class. They will learn skills to audition for film / television work, and approach scenework when acting for camera. We are also looking forward to adding our musical theatre program to our Alex City studio this semester!
We are thrilled to be in a position where we can offer a conservatory setting. Offering an environment where students can train intensely in a variety of the performing arts.
We will offer camps and clinics during fall and winter breaks, and we have a line up of amazing master classes for you this year. Keep a lookout for new blogposts, as we have set up some guest bloggers this year that are professionals in the industry all around the country!
Thank you for being a Star with us, and we look
forward to Rising to the next level with you this year!
