News from the SCDA…

Hey Dance Educators, Coaches, Students, and Friends!

It has been such a great year so far as your SCDA President. I am so looking forward to sharing what we’ve been up to and what’s yet to come for SCDA! Please read about our exciting year, and always reach out if you’d like to join the board or committees!

Dance Team Committee Summer Events

In July 2023, the Dance Team Committee hosted the second annual South Carolina Dance Coaches Summit and the 2023 South Carolina Dance Team College Combine. Both events were hosted at Fort Mill High School. Our Coaches Summit featured keynote speaker Dr. Chelsea Pierotti, a sports psychology consultant for dance, who led amazing sessions helping our coaches prepare to kick start their season with passion! The College Combine featured coaches and dancers from Clemson University, College of Charleston, Erskine College, Limestone University, University of South Carolina dance team and Coquettes, University of South Carolina Aiken, University of North Carolina Charlotte, and Winthrop University. We had phenomenal turnout for both events, and would love for you to join us in 2024!

Upcoming SCDA Events

On September 15th and 16th, SCDA will be teaming up with Arts Grow SC to launch a virtual conference! This event will be free to ALL SCDA members and non-members. Friday sessions will be recorded and will go live that morning, and Saturday will be live, synchronous classes, followed by a virtual brunch dance panel. There is an incentive for those who attend all sessions live–stay tuned for more information!

2024 is a SCDAncing Festival year!! Join us on March 22-23 at the Center for Dance Education in Spartanburg, SC for this great weekend of master classes and performances. The finale of this event will be a performance of a suite from Martha Graham’s “Appalachian Spring” performed by Ballet Spartanburg. Registration information will be available soon.

SCAHPERD Conference & Guest Speaker

Finally, we hope to see you at the SCAHPERD Conference at Embassy Suites in Myrtle Beach on November 17-19, 2023. This year SCDA will be featuring a guest speaker during the pre-conference session on Friday, as well as throughout the weekend. Friday’s pre-conference session will be titled “Hidden Core” and “Anatomy That Matters.” We are looking forward to welcoming Dr. Alexis Sams to the SCAHPERD Conference, and hope you’ll be joining us as well! Click this link to view Dr. Sams’ bio.

Please contact SCDA (admin@scdanceassociation.org) if you have any questions, or if you or someone you know would be great for SCDA, a leadership position, or a committee. We would love to get you involved!

I look forward to meeting you or seeing you again this summer and at the SCAHPERD Conference in November! Here’s to a great 2023-2024 school year!

Maddy Thiemann

SCDA President

mthieman@lexrich5.org