Forty students from the York County School of the Arts will start the new year by performing on national television.
The students, all dancers at the school, will join dancers from across the nation to perform in the half-time show of the Orange Bowl, broadcast Jan. 1, 2013 on ESPN from Miami. The students will perform choreography by Cris Judd, a dancer best known for his work with former wife Jennifer Lopez, in front of country singer Jake Owen.
While in Florida, the students will also train in Master Classes with renowned dancers, including “So You Think You Can Dance” choreographers Stacey Tookey and Travis Wall, “Step Up” choreographer Jamal Sims, jazz dancer Randi Lynn Strong and Judd, who has choreographed for the MTV Video Music Awards.
WorldStrides Heritage group, organizers of Bowl Games for college championships, invited SOA to participate in June. Dance teacher Katie Sheehan said she was pleased to see they were just as excited to participate in Master Classes as they are to dance on national TV.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our dancers and they certainly realize it,” she said. “The parents and school district have been extremely supportive of our group and news of the invitation.”
Since August, the students have worked to raise funds to pay for the travel expenses. The dancers will accept donations when they perform at New Town Art Gallery’s Christmas Gala, which will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 7. In addition, donations can be sent to School of the Arts/Orange Bowl, 185 E. Rochambeau Drive, Williamsburg, VA 23188.
