He almost didn’t try out for the team his first year but a word of encouragement from a coach was the nudge he needed and although he was battling severe stage fright, as long as he took the stage with his team he’d be OK. He competed two hip hop routines that year. Then his second year he was placed in two hip hop routines, one jazz routine and one contemporary routine and was offered his first solo. He was equal parts excited and scared. After four team competitions, three extra conventions of classes, and placing in the top ten for his solo I’d say his growth this year is best measured in leaps.
Tagged: CDC, competition, Creative Dance Center, dance, Oliver
Our home and hearts have never been more full.
And that’s a wrap, eleven cities on the tour of his life. As a Season XI Collective member he traveled the country, trained with some of the best in the industry, met hundreds of dancers and inspired many, learned how to work behind the scenes and on the stage, made mistakes and navigated the corrections, dealt with disappointment, experienced what good workplace culture can be, and in the words of Erica Sobol “Created space for others to shine.”
Hollywood Vibe is our fifth and last regional competition of the 2024-2025 season, and the last team competition for our four seniors. They have been dancing together for years, co-starring and partnering in dances, supporting each other on and off the stage. From the nerves of their early days to the confidence and presence of today, their leadership and example for all the dancers at the studio will be missed.
Tap and ballet are probably his least strongest dance styles. Each weekend Lucas has to be prepared to assist any class, from Camp Dance to Seniors, in any style, from tap to hip hop, challenging the kids to take the stage and assist in a style they might not be the strongest. There are favorites he always hopes for but at the end of every weekend the valuable lesson is always learned; every class is an opportunity to learn, grow and inspire. You get what you give.
He is a good dancer, he had to be to get selected for Collective. He also had to be professional, sincere and dance from the heart. But what truly distinguishes Lucas are the moments when his five year old self shines through, the unabated joy and wonder. Take that with all the other stuff he’s learned along the way and you have the one and only Lucas. 
24Seven is our Convention team’s second convention of the season. In Pittsburgh, we compete against studios we don’t usually see in the DMV area. The talent was fierce and the environment new but our dancers still shined showcasing the musicality and storytelling that are strengths to our studio.
To celebrate my 50th birthday, my sisters treated me with a trip to Mexico City. The sun shined, the weather was warm, the food was delicious, the sites were amazing and the quality time, a lifelong gift. 
From Daytona Beach to Kansas City to Nashville to Seattle, with bag packed he navigates the airport, boards the plane, looks out the window at the city he’s leaving, anticipating the city to which he is traveling. He works a grueling weekend, squeezes in meals when he can, survives on minimal sleep, bandaids sore feet, spends as much time as he can with the other Collective members, builds relationships with the faculty and gives high fives, words of encouragement, and genuine smiles to every dancer he encounters. Every interaction fuels him, every dance step validates and reaffirms, every moment is a moment he wants to live in for as long as possible. 
Our Everyday 