Girl Power is my favorite Era. It’s the most enduring and impactful. We celebrate our students’ many achievements, whether they are learning new skills in class or performing in their first recital.
It’s watching students excel outside the studio in sports, pageants, and college majors influenced by their love of movement.
Girl Power, for me, is getting a message from a former student reaching out to say thanks for her childhood development and confidence as an adult she presents at a convention in front of 2000 people. It’s seeing beautiful pictures of Jordan Schwinabart, a professional ballerina with the Alabama Ballet. There was lots of excitement watching Bethany Savage perform as a Washington Redskin Cheerleader. I take immense pride in the contributions of Brianne Meyers to the University of Maryland's Health and Wellness Department. My daughter grew up around so many amazing peers, and where the influence of fitness led her to a career as a Physical Therapist. She learned to dream big and is blazing a trail with her unique mobile rehab business for long-distance hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail, which she hiked in 2019. She won an industry award for Innovator of the Year after two years in the business she created. It’s watching Alissa work on her health and fitness daily, influencing girls and women on the importance of exercise.
Having role models is vital to everyone. It provides a guide and trust, allowing us to explore opportunities with added confidence. Some role models and the evolution of our signature programs include the Aerobic Diehards (1986-1998). These students set the standard of excellence and goal-setting for travel and unique dance experiences. In 1989, one of the most significant achievements for our studio was the Diehards, who performed on the New Mickey Mouse Club Show, earned a Golden Mickey and were inducted into the Mickey Mouse Club Hall of Fame. The next generation of Diehards made numerous appearances at the National Aerobic Championships, always appealing to the event's governing body to consider adding youth categories to the competition.
Throughout the years, we have enjoyed attending The Star Talent Tournament in Cumberland, a great event to fine-tune our dances before our annual recital. We have also been successful at Showstoppers Dance Competitions throughout the mid-Atlantic region. We always enjoy shaking up these traditional events with our high-energy sportaerobic routines, which many have not seen in the dance circuit. Another place our signature program does well is in pageants. We have had three students showcase their athletic prowess on stage, leaving quite an impression. Jessie Railey, Sara King, and most recently, Carly Lawson all earned the crown of Miss Allegany County performing their award-winning sport aerobic routines. Carly recently won her second title as Miss Cumberland and watching her growth in the process is truly inspiring. We also do well in jazz and acro categories. The occasional competition is fun to keep us training hard, to see other dancers, and to be inspired by new ideas.
(1999-2008) The Garrett County Sportaerobic Team earned 26 national awards and one world title. They traveled to big cities like Miami, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Nashville, Japan, Argentina, and Mexico. These competitive years could have easily been a separate era with all the incredible experiences and achievements. The girls on this team learned much about commitment, and we practiced a lot! We hit so many milestones, and the excitement at competitions was exhilarating. Nothing beats the pride you feel when representing your country at an international competition as Team USA. Seeing our team interacting with athletes worldwide, trading pins, laughing, smiling, sharing the stage, and cheering for one another was incredible. Every medal we earned was a celebration of hard work and commitment. We learned about teamwork, work ethic, and individual excellence. Marlana Betizel became one of our top athletes, competing and earning numerous awards as a teenager and into her adult years. At age 12, on July 4, 2001, Alissa stood on a stage in San Francisco, ranked first in a world competition leading athletes from over a dozen countries. Jessie Railey traveled to Japan to compete in the Suzuki Cup at age 1; that was an incredible trip and competition. Sara King made her rise when we were only doing individual events. She would earn a national title and acclaim as a top-notch athlete. Fortunately, our small town fully supported our fundraisers and pep rallies. Much of our success is due to the tireless support and enthusiasm received from the parents. Dave Taylor and Brenda Taylor were unbelievably helpful with fundraisers and team logistics. After success at the 2003 NAC World Sportaerobic Championships, we were invited to be the Grand Marshals for the Autumn Glory Parade. We traveled to Argentina for an international competition in early October before the Autumn Glory Festival. We experienced what it felt like to be in a country where you do not speak the language. It gave us a new appreciation for all the athletes we had met at the events held in the USA. On the way home from the airport, we stopped at the Wisp to perform at the Autumn Glory Kick-Offf Dinner.
After much reflection on these two eras in 2010, the decision was made to combine the influences of the Aerobic Diehards, who created improved training methods and performance. This combination resulted in the team we now have, Boundless Energy. It has been the perfect blend of excellence and life experiences. Alissa is the primary instructor for this group, and she demands commitment and hard work. She creates challenging and exciting routines that have made our groups stand out among hundreds of dancers at the Dance the Magic events. Dance the Magic is the perfect organization to require performance excellence but offers unique and fun travel and life experiences. It is always positive, and the focus for the group is overall performance; we are not being judged, so there is the freedom to relax on stage, and it seems these are the most enduring memories. Our Dance the Magic experiences have included two trips to New York City to perform on a Broadway stage, take in a few Broadway shows, and enjoy a riverboat cruise around Manhattan. We traveled to Nashville, performed on the stage at the Grand Ole Opry, and enjoyed the many sights and sounds of Nashville. Disney has significantly influenced Dance the Magic, taking us to Disneyland twice and Disneyworld last summer. Extensive fundraising and friends, family, and community support make all these adventures possible. Girl Power and role models for Girl Power are everywhere if you are looking. Always encourage your daughter to seek out upstanding women and teach them to be someone others might admire. You never know who you inspire, so let your Girl Power shine!