They did it! But wait, this journey for Lucas actually started seven years ago. DanceMakers was the first dance convention he attended when he joined Creative Dance Center’s competition team in 5th grade. It immediately made an impression on him. We’ve attended many dance conventions and the format is largely the same; high caliber faculty, classes in many styles of dance, competition against some of the best dance studios in the nation. What has stood DanceMakers apart from the rest is their vision; to make every person who walks through their doors feel welcomed, loved and supported. Those first few years Lucas stood out for his hip hop while he learned ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, ballroom and musical theater. Then class by class, year by year, his confidence grew. His trust in the dance community grew. His belief in himself as more than a hip hop dancer grew. The community, the faculty and the Collective of DanceMakers played a big part in the safety of this growth. For the past seven years we’ve attended a DanceMakers regional event and for the past three years we’ve attended their Nationals. The mutual trust and respect between our studio and DanceMakers has grown tremendously in the past few years with our coaches and dancers all feeling a bit more at home, every year.

Senior soloists

For four graduating seniors, Nationals was their last time to perform, compete and dance with the team. The Wedding is a Senior contemporary group routine. It has been competing well all season but the dancers outperformed themselves, taking home Top Senior Routine of Nationals! Lucas and his “bride” hanging out, waiting to take the stage.

Lucas’ solo Famous placed 16th overall out of more than 250 Senior soloists.

DanceMaker’s mission to create an atmosphere that promotes creativity, self-awareness, individuality, discipline, inspiration and love. It is not about looking good. It is about making people feel like they are worth looking at. Every year DanceMakers selects four JV and twelve Collective members who embody these values and extend them into the classroom. The Collective is an elite group of dancers chosen by the DanceMakers faculty as outstanding representatives of “who we are”. This group of dancers is invited to join the convention to assist, demonstrate, perform and study/mentor with the best faculty. Several Collective members have had a profound influence on Lucas over the years. To make Collective has been a dream of his for the past three years, and probably for most dancers in that room.

Our studio had an outstanding performance at Nationals taking home several style high scores, the Senior group overall high score with The Wedding and Best Choreography Studio winner. “I am still in complete denial that any part of this nationals happened because of how beautiful it was. My biggest dream since walking into the DanceMakers senior room for the first time has been to become a part of the DanceMakers family because I witnessed for the first time the brilliance of community in dance and how it can transform dancers in all kinds of ways. That dream came true today and I am just so grateful that I can play a role in positively impacting the experiences of dancers in the convention that I consider my home and safe haven. This week taught me patience, gratitude, and a willingness to push on, dance has beat me down in the past but being surrounded by so many amazing people only amplified my passion and I am so thankful that I could dance with all of you. Every single person.

DanceMakers, you guys have created a place that nurtures dancers and creates passion within all of us and for that I am eternally grateful. I have witnessed so much vulnerability and genuine love for one another at DMI for the many years that I have been going and it has changed my life. Thank you for this opportunity which I will cherish throughout this year.”
– Lucas