SIOUX CITY, Iowa (Iowa Media Wire) — Several students and coaches from the Arena Dance Academy, based here in Sioux City, recently returned from a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The team had to send in an audition video and meet other requirements to be able to take part in this opportunity. 17 of their Competition Team Members, aged 7-18, performed at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, as part of Disney’s Imagination Campus program.
Their 24-minute-long performance on the Hollywood Backlot Stage consisted of solo routines, group dances, and a 17-member production routine choreographed especially for the live-audience performance in Disney’s California Adventure Park. Over 60 team members and family members traveled with the group for the 4-day tour.
As part of the experience, the local dancers also took a Dancin’ Disney private workshop class from Disney Professional Heidi. “To watch these dancers in a Disney studio, in Downtown Disney, learning from a Disney choreographer, was such a dream come true for us,” states Gretchen Cooper, Arena Dance Academy Owner/Director. “We are lucky to be able to be able to experience this together. We are so proud!” The workshop focused on staging techniques, storytelling, audition tips, career advice, and dance performance elements.
Executive Director Dustin Cooper states, “To say we are proud of our Dance Program would be an understatement. From the athletes and parents to all of our dedicated staff, our Siouxland Sports Academy family is so proud of them all.”