Finding Stretch Dance Company (Part 1)

Stretch Dance Company has always been there, I just had to find it. 

Its legitimate development began April 2010, but now that I look back on my life, I realize that everything up until this point has been a part of its development.

My interests and activities have always been the same: performing arts, fine art, and teaching.  Some of my earliest memories are dancing with the frizzed out hair, too much blush, and sequins (especially for a four-year-old), theatre performances (including a very memorable appearance as a lamb in our preschool rendition of the birth of Jesus, and “playing school,” which, unfortunately for my parents, meant doing all of the stuffed animals’ homework I assigned to them, while I supervised and drank my “coffee,” which of course was milk...I still try to avoid coffee. 

Fast-forward a few years to my first memory of choreographing at the age of 8.  I had created a few dances and asked my parents to watch.  There were forms for them to fill out to judge and critique my work.  Two of which I distinctly remember were to Queen’s “We Are the Champions” (Click to hear this song) and Tag Team’s “Whoomp! (There It Is).”  (Click to hear this song)  Some of the choreography still remains in my head, but only a select few will ever see it…)  From there, I took off.

In high school, I started dancing privately with a woman named Melissa Barnett.  I owe so much to her and to my generous and encouraging parents who not only had to fund these excursions, but transport me to and from rehearsals and classes.  Melissa not only was able to teach me dance in a way that allowed me to be successful and accomplish my goals, but her method of teaching was refreshing and inspiring.  Her encouragement, high-expectations, preparation, fun choreography, and positive attitude are what shaped me into the teacher I am today.  She put me on my first pair of pointe shoes, which, like any dancer, I still have.

Throughout high school I continued with my study of theatre (performance and technical), singing, fine art, piano, and video production.  There were of course other subjects, I was particularly fond of math and history, but art was my life.      

When it came time for college, it was so difficult to choose what to do.  I loved (and still love) everything!!  I did not want to be limited in my studies.  I did the theatrical auditions for performance schools (in hotels in Los Angeles along with thousands of other hopefuls).  I also visited some of these schools.  For some reason, none of them appealed to me.  Finally, I visited the University of California, Irvine and loved it!  I knew that there I would be able to study everything I had an interest in while in a positive, productive environment.

Those four years passed by very quickly, but in those four years I started to solidify who I was to become...