FORCE FRIDAY

Showcase is TOMORROW! Can’t wait to see everyone!

Our last ‘Force Friday’ of the Dance Co. season is Melanie Bower!

 

Melanie’s birthday is coming up soon on April 30th! She is from Middletown, Maryland. This is her Sophomore year here at UNCW and she is majoring in Communication Studies! Along with Dance Co. she is part of Alpha Phi.

Melanie started dancing when she was four years old, making this her 17th year dancing! One funny moment from her dance career: “My first solo was to ‘Stupid Cupid’ from ‘The Princess Diaries’. The first time I ever performed it, I forgot the whole dance and just skipped around the stage and flapped my wings like an angel…embarrassing!”

This is Melanie’s first year with Dance Co.!

What has been her favorite thing about it?: “I love getting to meet girls from all different campus organizations and different years. I also love seeing the different styles everyone brings to the table, since we all grew up dancing in different studios!”

Fun Fact about Melanie: “I’m a crazy ‘yogi’ – I love yoga and am looking to get certified to teach it! I believe dance has helped me with the balance and flexibility aspects of yoga, which are so important. Dance and yoga help keep my mind clear and focused a midst a busy schedule… they are my outlets and forms of expression. :)”

 

April 11, 2014April 6, 2014 by UNCWDanceCompany Categories: Force Friday!, MembersTags: Company, Dance, Force, Force Friday!, Friday, Melanie Bower, UNCW, UNCW Dance Company Leave a comment

FORCE FRIDAY!

It’s finally Friday! 

8 DAYS UNTIL THE SHOWCASE!

Today we are featuring Jenna Forney!

Jenna’s birthday is in one month (May 5th)! She is originally from St. Louis, Missouri! She is a Sophomore at UNCW and she is majoring in Studio Art!

Jenna has been dancing for almost 17 years! She started when she was three years old at Lucille Rapp Dance Studio in Kirkwood, Missouri. One of her most memorable dance costumes: “The weirdest costume I had was a bright green unitard that I wore under a big neon green sack. We were supposed to be leafs and we all glowed with a black light. It was strange.”

This is Jenna’s first year with Dance Co.!

What is her favorite thing about Dance Co.?: “Being part of all the different choreography groups.”

Fun Facts about Jenna: “I absolutely love to read. I have over 30 books in Wilmington with me and another 50 or so back at my house in St. Louis. I am also in the middle of writing a novel that I will be getting published when it is done… Whenever I get the free time to start writing again.”

April 4, 2014April 4, 2014 by UNCWDanceCompany Categories: Force Friday!, MembersTags: Company, Dance, Force, Force Friday!, Friday, Jenna Forney, UNCW, UNCW Dance Company Leave a comment

FORCE FRIDAY!

It’s Force Friday!

Today we are featuring Dance Co. member, Amanda Lataille!

 

Amanda’s birthday was Tuesday (March 25th)! She is from Southbridge, Massachusetts. This her freshman year here and she is a nursing major.

Amanda has been dancing for 16 years She started when she was two years old at Kara Andersons Dance Studio. One funny event from her dance career: “One time I dislocated my arm two weeks before our first competition and they still had me dance on stage with a cast… the judges gave me a special award for it. ”

This is Amanda’s first year with Dance Co.!

What is is favorite thing about it?: “I love being able to continue to dance and meet new friends at the same time. Some of my closest friendships have come from being a part of Dance Company.”

 

March 28, 2014 by UNCWDanceCompany Categories: Force Friday!, MembersTags: Amanda Lataille, Company, Dance, Force, Force Friday!, Friday, UNCW, UNCW Dance Company Leave a comment

FORCE FRIDAY!

Happy Friday Everyone!

Today we are featuring Birthday Girl, Carly Deal!

Carly’s birthday is today! She is from Huntersville, North Carolina. She is a Junior majoring in Elementary Education. Along with Dance Co., Carly is also part of Teaching Fellows, A.C.E., Kappa Delta Pi (Education Honor Society).

Carly has been dancing for 17 years. She started out doing ballet and tap at Dance Davidson when she was four years old. She continues to learn jazz, pointe, modern, and hip-hop there until she came to UNCW!

One of her funniest moments of her dance career comes from her senior year at Dance Davidson.

“We did The Nutcracker that December and once dance I was in was the Snow corp.  At the beginning of the dance I did a sotobosque from the back stage right corner while another dancer did the same thing from the opposite corner. During our very last show we landed the sotobosque and as we were crossing to run off stage we body slammed each other!  We didn’t fall, but we definitely hesitated and created the most awkward moment ever.  I ran off the stage and thought that my director (who was super strict and scary) would be so mad at us, especially since we had done this dance a billion times before and she hated anything that would embarrass her.  But she was actually laughing so hard!  She thought it was hilarious and didn’t care a bit.  Relieved, I laughed too.  The rest of the dance I was out of it and trying to hold back laughter, but afterwards we all died laughing.  The most embarrassing part was actually during intermission when my mom came running down to the dressing rooms yelling “IS MY BABY OK!?” I wasn’t injured, but it will definitely stick with me for the rest of my life.  Ashley and I became known for our on-stage chest bump.

Dance Co. has had this ballerina for three years now!

What is her favorite thing about being part of Dance Co.?

“My favorite thing about Dance Company is being able to continue my passion of dance throughout college.  I don’t know what I would do if I wasn’t dancing!  I love and look forward to coming to dance after a long day and being able to express and release any emotions.  I’ve also learned a lot from dancing with all of these beautiful and talented girls!

Fun facts about Carly:

• She loves traveling and hope to someday teach abroad!
• She was born in a blizzard and her mom had to be transported to the hospital in an ambulance since all the roads were icy.  Her family calls her their “snow baby”.  “It just goes to show that we can still get a lot of snow this time of year!”

March 14, 2014March 14, 2014 by UNCWDanceCompany Categories: Force Friday!, MembersTags: Carly Deal, Company, Dance, Force, Force Friday!, Friday, UNCW, UNCW Dance Company Leave a comment

FORCE FRIDAY!

Happy Friday! Hope everyone is prepared for a wonderful spring break!

Today we are featuring Kelsey Middleton!

Kelsey’s birthday was Tuesday, February 25th! She is from Wake Forest, North Carolina. This is her freshman year and her major is Psychology. Along with Dance Co., Kelsey is also part of Overflow Campus Organization and Overflow Small Group.

Kelsey has been dancing for 17 years. She started when she was two years old at the Calvert School of Dance in Maryland. After moving to North Carolina, she was a member of the Core at CC and Company Dance Complex in Raleigh. One funny fact from her dance career is that her very first competition dance song was “Ghostbusters.” She had to dress up in a full-out Ghostbusters suit, and even had a ghost vacuum on her back with glitter and all!

This is Kelsey’s first year with Dance Co.!

What is her favorite thing about being a part of the Dance Co. family? ”

I love being able to take a break from all the studying and business of life by coming to practice and spending an hour doing what I love the most! It makes my Wednesdays and Thursdays so much better! I also have loved being able to help choreograph this year’s tap dance with such an amazing group of girls!

Fun Facts about Kelsey:

• I was a member of my high schools honors dance company and was the dance director my senior year.  I taught a weekly tap class at a local studio and have choreographed many tap dances for the studio as well as my school.
• I have played softball since I was 5 years old! I played on both the middle school team and varsity team at school!
• This past summer I traveled around Europe with my senior class!
• I love children! I worked in a daycare this past summer, and I hope to pursue a career in which I get to work with kids everyday!
• I also love to serve my community! Volunteering and going on mission trips are two things that I absolutely love to do!
• I have a sister, brother, and a dog named Toby!

February 28, 2014February 24, 2014 by UNCWDanceCompany Categories: Force Friday!, MembersTags: Company, Dance, Force, Force Friday!, Friday, Kelsey Middleton, UNCW, UNCW Dance Company Leave a comment

FORCE FRIDAY!

Happy Friday everyone!

Today we are featuring Force Member, Hilary Smith!

Hilary’s birthday was yesterday (the 6th)! She is from Cary, North Carolina. This her Senior year here at UNCW and she is Chemistry/ Pre-Pharmacy major. Along with Dance Co. Hilary is also a member of the Global Brigades.

Hilary has been dancing for 11 years. She started when she was very young in Wilmington, then stopped for a while and then started back up in Cary, NC.

One funny/embarrassing moment from her dance career was when her bra fell down while she was dancing on stage!

This is Hilary’s 3rd year with Dance Co.!

One of her favorite things about Dance Co. is that she has met some her best friends though the company.

Happy Belated Birthday, Hilary!

February 7, 2014 by UNCWDanceCompany Categories: Force Friday!Tags: Company, Dance, Force, Force Friday!, Friday, Hilary Smith, UNCW, UNCW Dance Company Leave a comment

FORCE FRIDAY!

Hello everyone! Hope everyone had a wonderful unexpected snow break!

Today we are playing catch up and featuring two force members, Meredith Johnson and Emily Mitchell.

First up, Meredith Johnson!

Meredith’s birthday was earlier this month on the 9th. She is from Burlington, North Carolina. This is Meredith’s “Victory Lap” here at UNCW she is a Super Senior majoring in Nursing.

She has been dancing since she was 3 years old. She started at Burlington Academy of Dance and Arts, from there she took just about every class she could until she graduated high school. During her junior and senior years of high school, she also dance at C.C. & Company in Raleigh.

One funny fact/ embarrassing moment from Meredith’s dance career (featured above): Her and her sisters all danced growing up. Every year, they would get a family photo in their favorite costumes. “We were all really weird.” In this picture, Meredith is the one in the blue bird ballet costume. Her little sister did a dance that year to “Leader of the Pack,” which explains the the motorcycle chic. “I think the rest of the picture explains its self…” says Meredith.

This is Meredith’s fifth year with Dance Co.!

What is her favorite thing about it?

“Obviously, dancing! My favorite part of Dance Co is being able to choreograph my own pieces and see them come to life.  It is one of the most stressful and exciting things I have had the pleasure of doing in my young life.”

 

Next we have Force Member, Emily Mitchell!

Emily’s Birthday was last week on the 23rd. She is from Goldsboro, North Carolina. She is a Junior majoring in Biology. Along with Dance Co., she is also part of the Pre-Dental Club and Alpha Xi Delta.

Emily has been dancing since she was 4 years old. She started at Artistic Dance Academy. Also, she was part of a ministry called Dance for Christ.

One embarrassing costume from her dance career comes from when she was in 5th grade. She was a clown for the “Nutcracker,” she had the ugly clown makeup, costume, etc.

This is Emily’s first year with Dance Co. Her favorite thing about it so far is all the dancers she has gotten to meet.

January 31, 2014 by UNCWDanceCompany Categories: Force Friday!, MembersTags: Company, Dance, Emily Mitchell, Force, Force Friday!, Friday, Meredith Johnson, UNCW, UNCW Dance Company Leave a comment

FORCE FRIDAY!

It’s Force Friday!

Today we are featuring Lauren Esham!

Lauren’s birthday was this Monday! She is from Ocean City, Maryland. This is Lauren’s sophomore year at UNCW and she is majoring in Psychology. Not only is she a part of Dance Co. but she is also a member if the Yoga Club, the Paranormal Activity Club, as well as the Craft Club.

Lauren has been dancing for 10 years. She started at the Seaside Dance Academy on their competitive team. One memory from that she has from dance is her first hip-hop dance. “I still laugh at the video of my first hip hop dance.. I did a great job at making myself look as awkward as possible.”

Lauren is a new member of Dance Co. this year!

“Dance Co. is a great group of girls! I love getting to come to class every week and release any stress or tension from the outside world. I don’t know what i would do if I didn’t have dance practice every week”

A fun fact about Lauren: She loves the band, Third Eye Blind! – Great group!

 

December 6, 2013December 7, 2013 by UNCWDanceCompany Categories: Force Friday!, MembersTags: Company, Dance, Force, Force Friday!, Friday, Lauren Esham, UNCW, UNCW Dance Company Leave a comment

FORCE FRIDAY!

It’s finally Friday!

Today’s featured Force member is Alexandria Golden!

Alexandria’s birthday is TODAY! She is from Beaufort, North Carolina. This is her Freshman year at UNCW. She is a Nursing major.

Alexandria has been dancing for thirteen years. She started when she was four years old then stopped her junior year of high school. Missing dance, she saw college as an opportunity to start again. When she was in seventh grade, her mom made her dance in the school talent show. The song that her teacher choreographed her dance to was “Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now, ” according to Alexandria, it was really embarrassing!

This is Alexandria’s first year with Dance Co.!

Her favorite thing about being part of the company: just being able to dance again!

Welcome to Dance Co. and Happy Birthday! 🙂

November 22, 2013November 21, 2013 by UNCWDanceCompany Categories: Force Friday!, MembersTags: Alexandria Golden, Company, Dance, Force, Force Friday!, Friday, UNCW, UNCW Dance Company Leave a comment

FORCE FRIDAY!

HOORAY! It’s Friday!

Today we are featuring Kaitlin Batson!

Kaitlin’s birthday is coming up this Monday, the 11th! She is originally from Monroe, North Carolina. This is Kaitlin’s senior year at UNCW! She will be graduating with a major in Communication Studies. Along with being a member of Dance Co., she is also the Treasurer of UNCW’s Communication Studies Society.

Kaitlin has been dancing since she was two years old, so nearly 20 years! She started at her local ballet studio, Bonita’s School of Ballet and continued to dance there throughout high school. She also competed with another local company, Victory Talent during her high school years.  One of her funniest memories of dance was when she was younger, her studio did a “Care Bear” themed show, and she had to wear a full on Care Bear costume. From head to toe, Kaitlin was Share Bear. “The whole experience was pretty awkward.”

This is Kaitlin’s second year with Dance Co., she joined when she was a junior!

What is her favorite thing about being a part of Dance Co.?

“I love that I got to continue my passion for dance into college. When I graduated high school, I was not ready to end my dancing career. Just because I moved off to college didn’t mean I wanted to quit dancing. I think Dance Co. is a wonderful opportunity for dancers to keep their creative edge and enjoy what we love most, dancing!”

Be sure to wish Kaitlin a “Happy Birthday” on Monday! 🙂

 

November 8, 2013 by UNCWDanceCompany Categories: Force Friday!, MembersTags: Company, Dance, Force, Force Friday!, Friday, Kaitlin Batson, UNCW, UNCW Dance Company Leave a comment