Highland Park Dance Company

Sometimes I have to pinch myself. We are so fortunate to have four beautiful children. Today’s guest blog post comes from one of them. Enjoy our daughters perspective on her dance achievements and what she attributes to her success. We think Taylor is pretty special. I think you will too.

xoxo- Tanya

Hi! My name is Taylor; I’m Tanya’s daughter. I’m a junior at Baylor University this year studying Marketing, Accounting, and Spanish in the Baylor Business Fellows program. I’m a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma where I serve as Recruitment Chair and Sing Chair for the 2014 and 2015 seasons.  I graduated from Highland Park High School in 2012.

I’ve been dancing my whole life and became a member of the Highland Belles drill team my freshman year at HP. On Belles, I was able to make Lieutenant my junior and senior years as well as All American and Kick Company – I was even named Ms. High Kick one year! I went on to dance for Baylor University on the Songleaders Pom Squad this past year. I attribute all of my success to the skills I learned at Highland Park Dance Company – both dance-related skills and skills I can use when I’m not in uniform.

I started taking at HPDC in the 7^th grade, right when my friend Casey Castellaw Sinclair was starting the studio. I learned how to turn and leap, how to do high kicks, and how to perform at competitions (and win most of those competitions!). More than that though, I learned how to work hard, how to be a team member, how to constantly strive to actualize my potential, how to lead with integrity, and how to glorify God in everything that I do. I also made some wonderful, life-long friends along the way!

I’ve been fortunate to be able to stay connected to HPDC since my time as a dancer there. I’ve been teaching dance at HPDC for 6 years now, and I’ve had the opportunity to invest everything I learned back into the girls and watch them grow. The girls that I met as gangly 6^th graders who didn’t know their right from their left are now entering High School, about to try out for Highland Belles. They’ve grown into amazing, unique teenagers who have their heads squarely on their shoulders and are willing to put in the hard work to accomplish their goals.

Of course every summer when I return to teach dance a lot has changed. A studio that was once filled with leotards and leg warmers is now filled with lulu lemon and choker necklaces.  However, the Christian principles that govern the studio remain enduringly constant. A dancer that walks through the studio doors today is taught the exact same integrity and character that I learned – with a few needed updates to the dance skills.

Highland Park Dance Company is currently enrolling for Fall 2014 classes (classes available for 1^st-12^th grade), and there are still some spots available at the summer camps I am teaching! Check us out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Highland-Park-Dance-Company/526147457427381 or register for classes at https://www.thestudiodirector.com/highlandparkdancecompa/register.jsp . Email HPdanceFeet@gmail.com with any questions. Thanks for reading!