November is traditionally the month when people give thanks for the many things in their lives for which they are grateful. Thanksgiving may come once a year, but Revolution Dance Academy is thankful every single day for the dancers and their families who come through its doors to learn, grow and create something beautiful through movement. We are also grateful for our amazing teachers, including Miss Toni, who bring their joy of dance to the studio every week.
RDA celebrated the holiday with its annual Thanksgiving potluck event at the studio. It was a wonderful way for our dance families to come together to feast, socialize and spread good cheer. (By the way, all the food was DELICIOUS!)
Earlier in the month, Revolution Dance Academy’s Company and Youth Company dancers participated in Dance, Dessert & Dreams, organized by Colorado Springs Dance Theatre (CSDT). Each year, CSDT celebrates the local dance community by presenting a showcase of talented young dancers, performing a variety of dance forms from several dance studios in the Pikes Peak region.
RDA also kicked off the holiday season with a group outing to the Pikes Peak Center to see The Nutcracker, presented by The Colorado Springs Philharmonic and Oklahoma City Ballet. Local dancers, ages 5-17, had the opportunity to audition in early September to be part of the ballet cast — and this year, two dancers from Revolution Dance Academy were selected to perform!
Company dancer, Gabriella (Gabi) Rae, 14 was cast as the Lead Angel and even had a small solo on stage. She was also one of a few student dancers invited to warm up and take classes with the professional dancers before each show.
Company dancer Danielle Thompson was cast as a soldier this year and was part of the epic battle scene — where precision is key. This was Danielle’s 5th year performing in The Nutcracker.
RDA also got Rev’d Up in November with the return of popular dancer and choreographer, Kevin Leon. Leon’s challenging master classes are always a big hit with the dancers and this year was no exception. He pushed them to their full potential and left each dancer feeling like they accomplished something special — and they did! Kevin also choreographed four solos for some of our Company dancers. We can’t wait to see them performed on stage this competition season!
RDA Dancers with Kevin Leon
“No one is born a dancer. You have to want it more than anything.”