To celebrate Jayson’s and Arianna’s senior year this crew had their own prom to celebrate the incredible friendships that carry beyond the dance studio and beyond the high school years. 
Tagged: Lucas, photography, prom
Our Everyday
Sharing our stories, big and small.
Posts tagged “Lucas”
Every day we do things, say things, make decisions, choose friends. Each day adds upon the first, the joke continuing, the story unfolding, the friendships building, the love returning. Up close one day is hardly distinguishable from another, but take 16 steps back and the whole becomes clear. The love, the nurture, the stings, the tears, the laughter, the growth, the layers of days built upon days that create a perfectly un-perfect 16 year old.
You were celebrated by friends that appreciate you, siblings that adore you, and adults that admire you because of all the things you’ve done and all the things you’ve said day after day. Embrace all the love and gratitude and let it fuel you on the days you don’t want to smile, on the days all decisions feel wrong because these friendships you are building are for life and the love you are giving only makes your story richer, bigger and brighter.
Friday
Artists Simply Human (ASH) Dance convention was our second team convention of the season for Lucas and Penny’s first. While we’ve attended a few optional conventions this season with a smaller group, being there with your whole team is always the best experience.
Matthew Smith has been choreographing and teaching master classes for our studio for the past five years. Part of the faculty at ASH, attending this convention gave our dancers the opportunity to take his classes and continue learning from him. And also gave him the opportunity to see our dancers continued growth. Matthew remembers Lucas from five years ago and has been able to see his growth bit by bit, year over year. Sometimes in classes the choreographer will select a dancer to be filmed. What a tremendous honor and opportunity for Lucas to have this first shining moment with Matthew.
Tagged: ASH, CDC, competition, convention, Creative Dance Center, dance, Lucas, Penny, scholarship
DanceMakers Richmond is the first team competition and convention of the season. DanceMakers is also one of our favorite conventions having gone year after year, the kids getting to know the choreographers and the choreographers able to see their growth. We compete against the same studios year after year and we measure our progress against theirs. We went from not being known to being the Hip Hop studio to being the studio that wins the Overall Group High Score. 
Tagged: competition, convention, Creative Dance Center, dance, Dancemakers, Lucas, Richmond
91 studios
1223 competition dances
Hundreds of dancers
First Nationals
Tagged: dance, Dancemakers, Lucas, Myrtle Beach, Nationals
The dance season isn’t over but what a season it’s been so far! This year Lucas competed six group routines and one solo, the biggest commitment he’s had to the team in his now fifth year of competition team. He went from 3 hip hop and 1 contemporary routine last season to 3 hip hop, 3 contemporary and 1 solo this season. He went from being a hip hop dancer to getting recognition in other styles including ballroom and musical theater. Every year we’ve seen his passion, commitment and drive for dance grow but this year was a pivotal year. This was the year his passion for dance grew beyond convenience and the year his friendships grew to become lifelong.
DanceMakers was the first convention of the season, back on stage, without masks. Several of the team had the opportunity to perform in the closing show. Hand selected by the choreographer, they rehearsed between classes and competition and got to experience a slice of professional dance life.
Tagged: 24Seven, Creative Dance Center, dance, Dancemakers, Hollywood Vibe, Lucas, Monsters
Tagged: 15, birthday, fifteen, Lucas, roller skating
Birthday celebrations started with a family day in DC.
He was always thoughtful and curious. Two qualities I observed early on that were echoed throughout his childhood in the questions he asked, the friends he made, the conversations we had. I remember swimming with him in the ocean, off the coast of Belize, chatting away as if I were talking to a friend, he was all of 9. Six years later we spend hours in the car talking about relationships, the creative process, gratitude, challenges (both his and mine), global politics, race issues and what inspires us. He doesn’t like conflict, doesn’t like to be scolded or reprimanded and therefore will use his humor and charm to calm an upset friend or an angry parent. In the past three years he’s grown tremendously in size, strength and ability. I look at this boy that is taller than me and bigger than me and I see the young man he is becoming. But at times I’ll catch an expression, a fleeting glimpse, and suddenly I see my 9 year old staring back at me and am reminded no matter how tall he grows he will never outsize that thoughtful, gentle heart.
Tagged: birthday, dance, fifteen 15, Lucas
Creative Dance Center’s Nutcracker in a Shell is an abbreviated, updated take on the classic and a festive community event. The performances raise funds for CDC’s non-profit IPAYouth, an organization dedicated to supporting dance education. With only ten rehearsals, over sixty dancers and one dress rehearsal the dancers have to be ready to perform. It is a lot of work, a lot of waiting, a lot of coordination and a lot of details. And it is a lot more than just a performance.
The Dress Rehearsal
Tagged: CDC, Creative Dance Center, dance, Lucas, Nutcracker, Penny, performance, photography
Our Everyday 