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Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Dancing for the ‘Dogs
Western Arkansas, AR
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By: Angie Baker, Director of Operations, Team Cheer USA/Team Dance USA
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Ashlee Calhoun
If you attend a game at Fayetteville High School this year, you will be unable to miss Ashlee Calhoun leading the Purple Dance Team. Ashlee is a flawless dancer and a natural leader, so all eyes will be drawn to her as she represents her school.
Ashlee began her dance training at age 3 at North Little Rock School of Dance where she continued training until age 12. From age 12 to age 14, she trained at Center Stage Dance Academy in Sherwood, AR. At age 14, she started dancing at Ann’s Dancers (now Ann’s Performing Arts Center) in Springfield, MO. She continues to train there at least once a month and takes classes locally at Bak Stage Dance Company.
“Ms. Ann is probably the most influential person for me from a dance standpoint,” Ashlee says. “When I started dancing for her, my technique was not good and in a manner of two years, she improved my technical skill and taught me to be a better dancer.”
Ashlee has garnered her fair share of dance honors, including scholarships from Hollywood Vibe to train at their convention and from a dance company in New York to attend tap training. She has earned All Star Dancer honors from Universal Dance Association for three years and last year, she finished 2nd place at the state competition by a very small margin. Ashlee loves individual dance and enjoys styles of dance, like tap, that are not what you would see on a dance team, however, for Ashlee, being on a team is the most enjoyable part of her dance experience.
Ashlee loves being able to represent FHS as a dancer. “I love the relationships that you form as a member of a team. Before dance, I was painfully shy, but being on a team brought me out of my shell and I’m really not shy at all anymore.” She also loves performing at halftime and entertaining the crowd. “People approach you after a performance to comment on the routine and it is exciting to be able to entertain the fans and know that they enjoyed what you do.”
Ashlee’s coach at FHS, Becky Williams, loves having Ashlee on her team. “Ashlee is the epitome of everything a coach would want. She has the best attitude, awesome dance skills, excellent leadership qualities and is a friend to everyone.”
At this point, Ashlee isn’t sure about what her future holds, but she is certain that it will involve dance somehow. “I teach some classes now and may want to continue with that. Right now, I plan to try out for Pom at the University of Arkansas. In the future, I think I would like to go to New York or L.A. to try my luck in the dance world and see what happens.”
Wherever Ashlee’s road leads her, her journey is sure to be successful.
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