This school year was an exciting year of growth and change for the SOA Dance Department! From new marley for the stage to new chances to socialize with other dancers in the department, to trips and performances, our dancers have experienced it all. Keep reading to hear some of the highlights from our year!

Third Thursdays: With the goal to bring dancers closer together, the department began Third Thursdays. Once a month, during middle and high school lunch times, dancers enjoyed special treats in the dance room while spending time with new and old friends. Treats included a hot chocolate bar, make your own trail mix, Halloween cookie decorating, a nacho bar, and King of Pops (coming this month)!

Dancing with the Teachers Fundraising event: With 11 teachers, this was our biggest Dancing with the Teachers fundraising event yet! Teachers and students teamed up to see who would bring home this year’s Mirror Ball Trophy all with the goal of raising money for our department. A record amount was raised!  

National High School Dance Festival in Pittsburgh PA: High School Students attended the National High School Dance Festival and had the opportunity to take master classes from dance professionals, attend unforgettable performances, and have the opportunity to earn scholarships. 

Disney Imagination Workshop: High school dancers traveled to Orlando to take part in the Disney Imagination Workshop. Students took classes and learned all about commercial dance!

Wild Blue Ropes and College of Charleston Dance Class: Middle school dancers took a field trip to Wild Blue Ropes Course on James Island for team building and some off campus. After lunch, they made their way to the College of Charleston to take classes from faculty!

Gaillard Master Dance Classes  with Professional Dance Companies: These classes gave students the opportunities to develop their craft and learn from some of the best dancers and choreographers in the industry.

Student Choreography Showcase: This annual showcase highlights student creativity as they get to choreograph and design pieces for the stage. 

Solo and Composition Opportunities: Our composition classes performed a variety of unforgettable shows. 8th grade Solos included original dance and photography, Junior Composition paired Visual Art & Master Choreographers, and Senior Thesis highlighted Social issues & Surprise Concepts. 

Guest Residency Program: Three middle school guest artists and four high school guest artists (with more to come) brought master choreographers and teachers to our studios to teach students for a week. Each class had a piece set especially for them, and these pieces were performed at our end of the year Departmental!

Original Senior Choreography: Our senior class choreographed their last dance, “Our Last Time.” The dance features the music of Adele, and was performed at the end of the year show and at graduation.

Senior Awards: Our seniors will receive the Thesis Medal and the National Honor Society for Dance Arts cords at Graduation.

National Honor Society for Dance Arts Inductees: 8 Sophomores were inducted into the National Honor Society for Dance Arts this May 2023. 

The Slowinski Scholarship: Two middle schoolers were awarded this year’s Slowinski Scholarship to pursue summer dance intensives.

New Stage Flooring: New Marley Flooring was purchased for the Rose Maree Myers Theater stage so that our dancers can continue to turn and leap safely and with grace for years to come.