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.
Tagged: Charlotte, Collective, dance, Dancemakers, Lucas, Penny, Season XI
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.
Tagged: 24Seven, CDC, convention, Creative Dance Center, dance, Lucas, Oliver, Penny, Pittsburgh
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.
Tagged: Collective, convention, dance, Dancemakers, Lucas, Seattle
Artists Simply Human (ASH) Dance convention is our team’s first convention of the season. It is also the only convention where both Oliver’s team and Lucas’ and Penny’s team compete together allowing me to see two solos, 15 group routines and cheer on all three of my kids. This is Oliver’s second ASH, Penny’s third and Lucas’ last. 
Creative Dance Center’s annual Nutcracker In a Shell The Remix is our community fundraising performance of the year. This year marks Creative Dance Center’s 26th annual performance, Oliver’s first, Penny’s fourth and Lucas’ last.
Tagged: Creative Dance Center, dance, Lucas, Nutcracker, Oliver, Penny
DanceMakers Collective Season XI kicked off with a weekend in Charleston, SC full of joy, friendship, community and anticipation for a one-of-a-kind year ahead!
Tagged: Charleston, dance, Dancemakers, Lucas, South Carolina
CLI Conservatory is a pre-professional dance program located in Southampton, MA. They offer summer intensives which are six days of classes with top choreographers across multiple styles, provide dance on camera experience, include wellness sessions to address the whole dancer and provide a safe, supportive community of like-minded dancers committed to growing their artistry. Lucas danced all week in a room full of supportive and talented dancers, learned from choreographers that inspire him, and rediscovered and deepened his love and appreciation of dance. I enjoyed the slowed down pace and charm of the many small towns of western MA, spending time with my fellow dance mom and seeing my son push himself, stay true to himself, and grow and stretch in new ways.
Tagged: CLI, CLI Conservatory, dance, Easthampton, intensive, Lucas
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.
Tagged: convention, Creative Dance Center, dance, Dancemakers, Lucas, Myrtle Beach, Nationals, Oliver, Penny, South Carolina
Beyond the Stars was our studio’s last team competition of the season and the one event all three of my kids competed all their routines. The season is always busy but always seems too short. 
Tagged: Beyond the Stars, competition, Creative Dance Center, dance, Lucas, Oliver, Penny
Last year at Hollywood Vibe Nationals, Lucas was selected for Vibe Company. For the 2023-2024 season he would have the opportunity to assist the faculty at three regional conventions, work with a mentor and participate in other projects to broaden his growth and skills as a dancer. We have attended two regionals and the third, and last, was Norfolk, our team event.
Tagged: competition, convention, dance, Hollywood Vibe, Lucas, Penny, Vibe Company
Our Everyday 