Dance Alive
Dance Alive is a two week introductory dance program built on the 19 year partnership between Ballet Tennessee and the city of Chattanooga’s Department of Youth and Family Development. The program is funded in part by George R. Johnson Family Foundation, ArtsBuild, Tennessee Arts Commission and from donor support.
Selected by an audition process, the students are all on full scholarship for the entirety of the program. After being transported from the recreation centers, students participate in two hours of dance instruction and choreography at Ballet Tennessee (located at the John A. Patten Center in Lookout Valley). Students are encouraged to be creative and their ideas are often incorporated into the choreography.
This is a community wide process as the dancers represent many areas where the Youth and Family Development centers are located around Chattanooga. John A. Patten Youth and Family Development Center: Makenna Saylors, Macey Smith, Jayda Spencer and Myah Waite; Shepherd Youth and Family Development Center: Madison Acklin, Jamia Boyd, Jamaria Boyd, Aniyla Clark, Kristian Daniels, Ke’Andris Foster, Marriah Geigter, Kailyn Mitchell, Jada Owten, Kennedi Sabb, Raniah Strickland, Jacobi Wilkes and Jaliyah Wilkes; First Centenary Youth and Family Development Center: Iyona Harvey and Haven Jones; Tyner Youth and Family Development Center: Khariah Carter, Jamaya Davis and Kamani Pitner; Brainerd Youth and Family Development Center: Kayla Bridges, Kennedi Elston and Onicah Rucker; Carver Youth and Family Development Center: Ciriniti Cooines, Joseph Crutcher, Jametrius Miller, Carmunnie Ray and Martel Usher; Hixson Youth and Family Development Center: Marliyah Dixon, Semaj Freeman, Ja’Nhiya Ray and Karielle Sutton; North Chattanooga Youth and Family Development Center: Jerry Abbernathy, Janiyah Alford, Kylie Davis, Ariyah Ghaston, Ryan Gomez, Liric Johnson, Owiin Merritt, Eric Robinson, Melanie Rodriguez, Corvel Russell and Mecca Sales; South Chattanooga Youth and Family Development Center: Maddison Eubanks, Emari Owens, Quaniya Strickland, and
Quionnia Watkins; East Lake Youth and Family Development Center: Sariya Harris, LaiLani Hatten, Jai’ana Matthis and Kayla Rivers; Avondale Youth and Family Development Center: Destinee Carroll and Chenoa Newell; Glenwood Youth and Family Development Center: Adrianna Bolden and Kennedi Porche; and Washington Hills Youth and Family Development Center: Jaleah Hutchins and Maria Williams.
The Chattanooga community dancers are Caroline Badenoch, Madison Cothern, Mesha Dockery, Tyaja Foster, Elizabeth Graeber, Raven Griffin, Robin Hansen, Lovest Hogstrom, Kelsea Holland, Ta’Sean Honeysucker, Kiana Humphrey, Victoria Rose Johnson, Kathryn Grace Kyle, Zia Manghane, Lynnea McClain, Kai Ryals, Aleah Sanders, Skylan Sapere, DeShuna Tremble, Olivia White and Odessa Young.
Dance Alive and Ballet Tennessee’s annual three week Summer Intensive for Intermediate and Advanced dancers both culminate in a free public performance Friday, July 22, at 6 p.m. The performance is at UTC Fine Arts Center on the corners of Palmetto and Vine Streets.