In the words of senior dancer Sara Kate Elrod, “I have grown up watching the seniors dance in the senior piece each year, never thinking my time would come.”
The 12 seniors from the Dalton Dance Company will dance together one last time Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 22-24, in the Dalton Arts Project’s performances of “Moments.” Seniors Sophia Bagby, Katherine Brownlee, Mylinh Carroll, Sara Kate Elrod, Ella Helton, Addison Hester, Banks Land, Mia Martinez, Claire Miller, Lena Riggle, Ava White and Kinsey Woodson will share their talents and love of dance with each other and the audience as they perform their farewell piece, “Forever On Your Side,” choreographed by Lori Beth Eicholtz.
Sophia Bagby is the daughter of Elvira and John Bagby. She will graduate from Dalton High School and plans to continue her education by studying biology/pre-med at Georgia Southern University. In addition to dancing for the past 15 years, she spends her time as a varsity cheerleader at her high school and babysitting. She said, “I am so excited to spend these last practices and performances with some of my best friends. My most special memories occur backstage. All the joy and happiness that fills the room will be missed. I will cherish these moments forever.”
Katherine Brownlee attends Dalton High School and is the daughter of Margaret and Lawrence Brownlee. She has danced for 14 years and also participates with the DHS golf team and Pep Club and enjoys any free time with her friends and family. She said, “I am so grateful for the experiences and the memories dance has given me. I will miss my friends and performing so much. Thank you Dalton Dance Company.” She plans to earn a degree in sports management at the University of Georgia beginning in the fall.
Mylinh Carroll, a senior at Dalton High School, has danced since she was 3. She now also teaches hip-hop and assists teachers at the Dance Theatre of Dalton. She enjoys spending free time with family and friends. She is the daughter of Thy and Nathan Carroll. She said, “Being able to dance alongside my friends is something I am so grateful for. Dance has taught me many things and has shaped me into who I am today.” She plans to study communication sciences to pursue speech pathology and is deciding between the College of Charleston and Georgia Southern.
After graduating from Girls Preparatory School (GPS) in Chattanooga, Sara Kate Elrod plans to attend the University of Georgia and major in marketing. She is the daughter of Wendy and Tony Elrod. She has been dancing for 13 years and also is a member of the GPS golf team and participates in Young Life. She said, “My favorite thing about March Concert is getting to perform many different styles and types of dances. It is fun having such a variety of dances that are all so unique and different from each other. I also love having guest teachers come in to choreograph new pieces. This year is going to be really sentimental because it is my last performance ever. I am so thankful I have gotten the opportunity to dance and am so excited to perform.”
Betsy and Scott Helton are the parents of Ella Helton, a senior at Northwest Whitfield High School. She has danced for 14 years and is a member of the varsity football and competition cheerleader squads at her high school where she was cheer captain. She said, “I have so many memories from the March Concerts, from meals in between shows backstage, laughs, quick changes and singalongs. I am so incredibly grateful for all the many memories and friends that dance has given me. Dance made me the person I am today. This last one will be very bittersweet, but I am very excited for the new memories to come.” She plans to major in pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Georgia beginning in the fall.
After graduating from Dalton High School, Addison Hester plans to attend Georgia Tech and major in industrial design. She is the daughter of Shanda and Chris Hester. She has been dancing for 15 years and teaches dance at the Dance Theatre of Dalton as well as assisting other teachers. She is a member of the United Way’s Youth Council and volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Georgia Mountains. She said, “My favorite March Concert memories are all of the backstage cries and laughs we’ve shared. We’ve shared so many special moments with each other and the teachers. This year’s final bow will be extra bittersweet.”
Amy and Matt Land are the parents of Banks Land, a senior at Calhoun High School. She has been dancing for 16 years and is also a sideline and competition cheerleader. She said, “March Concert has always been one of my favorite times of the year, from watching my sisters when I was little to performing in my final show senior year. I’ve always loved the multiple styles we’ve gotten to perform and the hard work that gets put into the show. I will forever cherish all of the memories I’ve made backstage and the countless friendships I have made through Dance Theatre of Dalton.” In the fall, she plans to attend Auburn University and major in building sciences.
Claire Miller, a senior at Dalton High School, is the daughter of Dana and Rod Miller. She has been dancing for 13 years and is a member of the DHS varsity soccer team and the Chattanooga Red Wolves Academy soccer team. She said, “As a company we’ve grown so close over the years, which makes March Concert the most fun. Performing can be stressful but I always find myself laughing and smiling more than ever with my company. It’s so much fun at March Concert just because of the variety of dances and the audience enjoying every different piece. It is extremely sad to let go of dance because it’s been in my life for so long, but I’m happy I’ll never lose these friends.” She plans to study business at Georgia Tech in the fall.
Mia Martinez, the daughter of Lis and Zuecis Martinez, attends Dalton High School and plans to earn a fashion and design degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design beginning in the fall. She has danced for 15 years. She said, “One of my favorite memories of dance is being a mouse in ‘Nutcracker.’ I also really enjoyed all of my March Concerts and the special friends I made along the way that will always have a place in my heart. My best memory is getting ready backstage with my friends.”
After graduating from Dalton High School, Lena Riggle plans to attend the University of Georgia and major in biology. She is the daughter of Amanda and Micah Riggle. She has been dancing for 15 years and is the assistant office manager at the Dance Theatre of Dalton where she teaches and assists with classes. She serves as a member of the Youth Council for the United Way. She said, “The memories I have shared with my best friends are ones that I will hold close to my heart forever. I have met so many friends though dance and work where we have shared many laughs, cries, inside jokes and moments through the years. This year there will be even more as we take the stage one last time. I am forever grateful for the past 15 years and could not have asked for a better last March Concert.”
Ava White, a senior at Dalton High School, has danced since she was 3. She is the daughter of Karen and Charlie White. She is also a DHS cheerleader and a member of the tennis team, FCA and the Pep Club. She said, “I have loved dancing in the ‘Nutcracker’ and March Concert each year. Whether it’s helping my friends quick change or sprinting across backstage, every second is full of adrenaline and excitement. I have made lifelong friends through dance and have shared so many memories with them since our first ballet class together.” She plans to attend Auburn University and major in interior design.
Jennifer and Chad Woodson are the parents of Kinsey Woodson, a senior at Southeast Whitfield High School. She has been dancing for 14 years. She spends her time teaching and assisting at the Dance Theatre of Dalton and with family and friends. In the fall, she plans to attend Georgia College and State University and major in business. She said, “March Concert has given me many learning opportunities and friendships I will cherish forever. All of the backstage laughs and moments made the years fly by.”
The Dalton Arts Project presents the Dalton Dance Company in its spring dance concert “Moments” on Friday, March 22, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, March 23, at 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, March 24, at 2 p.m. in the Dalton High School theater. Tickets are $10 each and are available at the Dance Theatre of Dalton studios, 411 North Park Drive, or the DHS theater door on the day of the shows. For more information, please call (706) 529-5664 or connect with the Dalton Dance Company on Facebook and Instagram.