Feature: St. Benedict Dancer Kayelee Gill-Davidge
Dancing is Kayelee Gill-Davidge's life
By JENNIFER STOCKINGER
Brainerd Dispatch
The 2009 Brainerd High School graduate has been dancing since she was 3. She took dance classes at Just For Kix and was on the BHS dance team. She competed at the state dance competition every year of her high school career.
"I had a lot of energy and I needed an outlet," said Gill-Davidge. "Dance was my outlet. When I was little, my sisters and I would dress up all the time and perform. I come from a dance family."
Gill-Davidge - who has done kick since age 3, ballet since fifth grade, jazz and lyrical dance since seventh grade - did not end her dance career after high school. Gill-Davidge, 18, tried out for the dance team at the College of St. Benedict, where she is a freshman.
"I wasn't sure at first if I wanted to dance," said Gill-Davidge. "I was going back and forth. I wanted to focus more on my school work, but then I thought if I don't try out I may regret it.
"I was really nervous at try-outs because there were girls from the Twin Cities who were on some of the top dance teams in the state. We learned a dance all day and then we tried out in small groups. It was hard because they shoved all these skills into a one-minute dance."
Gill-Davidge said about 100 girls tried out for the three dance teams at the college: The national team of 12 girls who compete in the national dance competitions; the regional team of 16 girls who compete in regional competitions; and the performance team, which is a combination of the two other teams, who perform for entertainment.
Gill-Davidge made the national and performance teams. Gill-Davidge said she participated in one performance team event and three competitions at Minnesota colleges. The national team also danced in the 2010 College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship in January in Orlando, Fla. St. Ben's took fourth place out of 27 teams in the open class division.
"This was the highest the college has even placed in the last couple of years," said Gill-Davidge. "We're pretty proud. The competition was pretty intense and intimidating because it was in the Milk House at Disney's Wide World of Sports and ESPN was videotaping the competition and backstage."
Gill-Davidge said the team danced to "National Women," a song remake that was performed to a lyrical dance. Gill-Davidge said the routine had a lot of high skills with a lot of turns. Before the competitions, Gill-Davidge said they practiced two hours a day, four days a week.
Gill-Davidge said competing on the college dance team was different from competing on the high school dance team. One of the main differences is the focus. Gill-Davidge said in high school the practices were more focused on running the routine many times and it was at a faster pace. On the college team, Gill-Davidge said it was a slower pace and the team focused more on endurance and strengthening.
Another difference was the college team doesn't have a coach, it's run by team captains, said Gill-Davidge.
"I feel there was more pressure at the practices on the high school dance team because the coach was watching you," said Gill-Davidge. "But being my first year on the college team, I didn't know what to expect so that was a little nerve-wracking."
Gill-Davidge, who is majoring in elementary education at St. Ben's, said being on the college dance team did not take away any of her time from her school work. In fact, she said it pushed her to do her homework on time.
Being in dance, Gill-Davidge said has helped her with time management, how to work with others and accept compromise and be supportive of others.
Gill-Davidge said during her school breaks she has helped with the BHS dance team. She said she also teaches two dance classes at the Just For Kix studio in St. Cloud.
Gill-Davidge said she also is interested in art, especially painting and drawing.
By JENNIFER STOCKINGER
Brainerd Dispatch

"I had a lot of energy and I needed an outlet," said Gill-Davidge. "Dance was my outlet. When I was little, my sisters and I would dress up all the time and perform. I come from a dance family."
Gill-Davidge - who has done kick since age 3, ballet since fifth grade, jazz and lyrical dance since seventh grade - did not end her dance career after high school. Gill-Davidge, 18, tried out for the dance team at the College of St. Benedict, where she is a freshman.
"I wasn't sure at first if I wanted to dance," said Gill-Davidge. "I was going back and forth. I wanted to focus more on my school work, but then I thought if I don't try out I may regret it.
"I was really nervous at try-outs because there were girls from the Twin Cities who were on some of the top dance teams in the state. We learned a dance all day and then we tried out in small groups. It was hard because they shoved all these skills into a one-minute dance."
Gill-Davidge said about 100 girls tried out for the three dance teams at the college: The national team of 12 girls who compete in the national dance competitions; the regional team of 16 girls who compete in regional competitions; and the performance team, which is a combination of the two other teams, who perform for entertainment.
Gill-Davidge made the national and performance teams. Gill-Davidge said she participated in one performance team event and three competitions at Minnesota colleges. The national team also danced in the 2010 College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship in January in Orlando, Fla. St. Ben's took fourth place out of 27 teams in the open class division.
"This was the highest the college has even placed in the last couple of years," said Gill-Davidge. "We're pretty proud. The competition was pretty intense and intimidating because it was in the Milk House at Disney's Wide World of Sports and ESPN was videotaping the competition and backstage."
Gill-Davidge said the team danced to "National Women," a song remake that was performed to a lyrical dance. Gill-Davidge said the routine had a lot of high skills with a lot of turns. Before the competitions, Gill-Davidge said they practiced two hours a day, four days a week.
Gill-Davidge said competing on the college dance team was different from competing on the high school dance team. One of the main differences is the focus. Gill-Davidge said in high school the practices were more focused on running the routine many times and it was at a faster pace. On the college team, Gill-Davidge said it was a slower pace and the team focused more on endurance and strengthening.
Another difference was the college team doesn't have a coach, it's run by team captains, said Gill-Davidge.
"I feel there was more pressure at the practices on the high school dance team because the coach was watching you," said Gill-Davidge. "But being my first year on the college team, I didn't know what to expect so that was a little nerve-wracking."
Gill-Davidge, who is majoring in elementary education at St. Ben's, said being on the college dance team did not take away any of her time from her school work. In fact, she said it pushed her to do her homework on time.
Being in dance, Gill-Davidge said has helped her with time management, how to work with others and accept compromise and be supportive of others.
Gill-Davidge said during her school breaks she has helped with the BHS dance team. She said she also teaches two dance classes at the Just For Kix studio in St. Cloud.
Gill-Davidge said she also is interested in art, especially painting and drawing.
Labels: Features, St. Benedict
3 Comments:
chenlina20150924
christian louboutin
rolex watches
cheap oakleys
adidas shoes
kate spade outlet
ray ban sunglasses
chaussure louboutin
air max
barbour uk
toms shoes
canada goose jackets
canada goose uk
prada outlet
ed hardy uk
air max 90
ray-ban sunglasses
nike running shoes
football shoes
lebron james shoes
gucci
nike air max
mcm outlet
louis vuitton
nike elite socks
ray ban outlet
louboutin
retro jordans
jordan pas cher
ugg boots
longchamp handbags
cheap uggs boots
nike huarache trainers
coach outlet store online
hollister kids
coach outlet online
instyler curling iron
timberland boots
hollister
fitflops sale clearance
sac longchamp pliage
By
chenlina, At
7:26 PM
20151015 junda
michael kors outlet
Jordan 6 Rings Powder Blue
Authentic Louis Vuitton Belts Outlet Store
abercrombie
Michael Kors Outlet Online No Tax
Louis Vuitton Outlet USA
Tom Shoes Outlet With Free Shipping
louis vuitton outlet
Michael Kors Outlet Free Shipping
louis vuitton outlet
nike trainers
michael kors handbags
Authentic Louis Vuitton Handbags Cheap Online
Abercrombie & Fitch Factory Outlet
Hollister uk
coach factory outlet
michael kors
cheap uggs
Louis Vuitton Bags Outlet Store
nfl jerseys
Lebron James Basketball Shoes Sale
ugg boots
ugg australia
Official Coach Factory Outlet Online Sale
ugg outlet store
Coach Factory Outlet Online Sale
Buy Kobe Shoes Online Discount
hollister clothing store
tory burch outlet
ralph lauren
By
风骚达哥, At
12:19 AM
ray ban sunglasses
eagles jerseys
coach bags
coach outlet store online
yeezy boost 350
salomon boots
converse shoes
christian louboutin shoes
ray ban sunglasses outlet
fitflops shoes
By
raybanoutlet001, At
1:04 AM
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home