Day 4: DMA Convention Opening Party

Despite the fact that we’ve been here since Thursday and Zoe and Jordan started competing on Friday, tonight was the official Opening Party for the week. The theme was Heros.  

All the Title Contestants paraded in- first the Petite group; then Juniors; then Teen; and lastly Miss/Mister.  Here’s some quick pictures. Going to bed shortly because tomorrow will be another early morning.  

Day 4: Junior Company Starts Competing and Workshop Classes

Today the Shely Pack Dancers Junior Co started competing.  Gianna killed it with her solo & got a High Gold score. 

Here’s the fabulous Junior Competition Team from Shely Pack Dancers, most who arrived yesterday. 

Here’s Jordan helping put on the false eyelashes on Olivia before competing. Darn false eyelashes, always a challenge.  But Jordan has this skill down. 

This afternoon both Zoe & Jordan were in workshop classes. Jordan took 4 classes- Modern; Jazz Funk; Tap; & Ballet. Each class had different teachers.  Zoe took Jazz & Modern.  

After classes we had a quick dinner with Shely, Grace  & Gianna, then Zoe & Jordan practiced their jazz duet with Grace.  They compete it tomorrow morning. They just learned it 2 weeks ago.  Can’t wait to see it on the stage. It’s really great! 🔥

Tonight is the Opening parade of contestants and Party. Time to go get ready. I’ll do one more post later before bed. Happy 4th of July to all!  ♥️🤍💙

Day 3: More Audition Classes and Late Night Rehearsal

After interviews we went back to the room for the girls to change and grab some lunch. After lunch they both had two more audition classes- one in modern and one in tap.  They both felt good about modern but neither felt that good about tap. They both know how to tap but it’s not a strength of either one.  

Audition classes ended at almost 5:30pm then Jordan and I met up with Shely and Gianna for dinner while Zoe took a bath.  Jordan had to be back to rehearsal from 7 to 9pm.  

Zoe’s rehearsal started at 9pm when Jordan’s was over and got done at 10:30pm.  Long day, but a good day. 

Here’s Zoe stretching in the hotel room before rehearsal. 

Miss/Mister dance contestants waiting to go into rehearsal after the Teens are done. 

And moms waiting to pick up their child outside the rehearsal room. 

Today the majority of the people attending the DMA PAC competition & convention arrived.  Tomorrow the workshop classes start and tomorrow night is the opening party. The girls are both looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow. It will be there only day to sleep in until next Friday.  

Happy 4th of July to all!  ❤️🤍💙

Day 3: Interview w/ the Judges

Today started for Zoe and Jordan with a panel interview with the 5 judges. Definitely a nerve wracking situation but both girls felt really good with how they did. And…they were looking good too. ⭐️

For Zoe, each of thr 5 judges had an opportunity to ask her a question. The first judge asked her how she planned to utilize her dance training & education in the future. She talked about how she wants to major in psychology & focus on weaving in her dance background & training with the emphasis being on health, wellness, and mental health of young people. She talked the importance for young people to be active and move their bodies and how that helps with their self confidence, self esteem, along with mental and emotional health.  

The next judge asked her if she won a million dollars today what she would spend it on. She said she would use it to start her own business & build her brand, buy a building/location, and do marketing and networking. 

She was asked if she could be any type of dance shoe, what would she be & why?  She said a pointe shoe and talked about how it’s hard and not flexible in the beginning just like things are in real life. But the more you work at a pointe shoe the more flexible it becomes and the greater confidence you have dancing with them and again making the parallel to taking on new things in life.  This is mom paraphrasing from what Zoe told me of course. 😂 Zoe was a ton more articulate!  

The forth judge asked her about the difference between competing at YAGP vs DMA.  (These are 2 very different types of dance competitions that Zoe has competed at & won awards at for those that might be wondering.) She talked about how at YAGP participants tend to be focused only on themselves and it is all about ballet and very technical.  Whereas DMA is a much more friendly, diverse & inclusive atmosphere with all types of dance where you can easily make friends and build relationships that last of a lifetime. 

Lastly she was asked what was the greatest lesson she learned during the pandemic.  She said that in the beginning of lockdown it was very isolating for her and she found doing zoom dance classes to be difficult and just not the same without having the in person connections with her friends and teachers. She said she learned how important it is to reach out to people and make those connections because you never know who might need it. 

Jordan was asked about her favorite type of dance to choreograph (because on her resume she put her experience with, and love of, choreographing).  She said that Broadway and Jazz were her favorites because you have a lot of artistic freedom with both of them. And she talked about the challenge of working with kids who were not dancers when she choreographed for her school musicals. But how it taught her patience but also how much she grew and learned from that experience and how great it was to see everyone come together as a group. 

They asked her how she has changed over the past 5 years.  She said that she has realized and become much more grateful for everything she has and all the opportunities that have come her way.  She said that the pandemic in particular made her realize how lucky she has been to be able to travel and experience different cultures and how much those travels have changed her. 

One judge asked which place and culture had the greatest impact on her.  She said Japan  because their culture is one that everything they do is done for a purpose and has meaning. She talked about the  l Tea Ceremony that we attended and how each step has a specific meaning. She tied in how that has influenced her life and has brought home the importance of having purpose and meaning and passion for the things you do in life. 

Well I think they might have asked Jordan one more question, but it escapes me now.  I had all these details from listening to them both relaying their interviews to me, then their dance teachers, and then to Brad. Hey, I’m in full tilt dance mom mode this week so this is all I have to remember. I think I did pretty good. 😜

Here’s some more pictures from this morning. Some with Shely, amd Grace, and some with Sophia who also crushed felt like she crushed it in her interview. Boom! 💥 

When did these girls get so tall?! 

 

Very proud of all three girls today!  They made their chapter, and their dance studio, proud.  ♥️

Day 2: Opening Number Rehearsal

The final event for the day was the opening number rehearsal for the night of the solo title competition. 

We had a good dinner & both Zoe & Jordan are ready to go for the final push of the day- rehearsal from 7 to 10pm. 

Rehearsal went well & back to the room. Showers & bedtime. Tomorrow is interviews with the judges & more audition classes. Catch you later…..😘

Day 2: Audition Classes

First up for Zoe was the Ballet audition class and her first (of many) rounds of stretching. 

Second class for Zoe was Jazz.  I saw her briefly between the 2 classes when she changed her tights from pink, for ballet, to tan for jazz.  She felt really good with how she did with the ballet Audition. 

Zoe heading into Jazz audition. 

First audition class for Jordan was Jazz. Go number 24!!

They didn’t let the Teen group come out between classes so not sure yet how Jazz went for her. Jordan’s second class was Ballet.  Jordan too felt good about Ballet but both of them wished they had more time to totally nail the style of the Jazz combination.  

BTW- is anyone checking out the carpet?!  Texas, definitely Texas. 🤠

Day 2: First Up- Title Competition Orientation

The first event of the Title Competition is for all the contestants to gather together, with their chapter title holder jackets, crowns, sashes, and medallions for the boys.  Zoe, Jordan, and Sophia looked ready to represent! 

Ms. Grace, as the Junior Title Director, was introduced on the stage along with the choreographers for the opening number and the current Junior Miss and Mister Dance of America. 

After orientation they took group pictures with each division contestants. Here’s the Teen Contestants with Jordan in the back of the group. 

And here’s Zoe and the Miss/Mister contestants. 

Once orientation was over we went to get some lunch prior to audition classes this afternoon. 

More to come this afternoon……..