News

On Thursday December 15, 2011, the Shining Stars Amateur Team donated to the Toys for Tots Tree. This is the 5th year that the team has donated their gifts exchange gifts to the tree in the lobby. I am proud of this team for all coming together and making others Christmas dreams come true. Children giving to children, what a wonderful feeling it is.

On Friday December 16, 2011, the Shining Stars Amateur Team completed its Project 212 Community Service Project. Assisting the team were Angie Locke, Sandy Logan, Sonya Barker, Georgi McKinney, and Wanda Geren. They all packed Shelf Stable packages for Meals on Wheels of Anderson. The Meals on Wheels Shelf Stable Meals program assures that no one will be without food when conditions make it unsafe for our drivers to deliver meals. Meal packages are packed in individual gallon size Zip-lock bags and contain: Ready to eat canned soup, nutri-grain bar or granola bar, package of crackers, canned or boxed juice, individual boxes of raisins, individual containers of fruit. The team all provided the items need and packaged 84 meals themselves, which were delivered to Meals on Wheels of Anderson during the Christmas break. The team learned that these meal bags are the only items that a person will have to eat on days that Meals on Wheels cannot deliver them a regular meal. They all had a good time doing this as a group. We are very proud of our giving team as well as their parents. Thanks to the Shining Amateur Team and parents!

This project allowed our team to realize just how fortunate we all are!

On Thursday January 5th, 2012 the UCDC Shooting Stars Challenge team served meals at Pickens County S.H.I.N.E soup kitchen in Easley. They also collected tea bags and sugar for the soup kitchen as well. The team members entertained the families by performing a competition clogging routine during their visit. This visit was part of the UCDC’s Project 212 community service program and the Shooting Stars Challenge team are excited about helping serve S.H.I.N.E again in the coming months!

Jordan Chastain, a Senior Jazz team member, just returned from Los Angeles where he was signed on as a member of a new Pop Super Group the A List. Jordan is joined in this group by Savannah, who lives in Arizona. Multi-Platinum Producer and Songwriter Bryan Todd is their manager. He also had a hand in putting together such groups as Big Time Rush and V Factory. This past weekend the two did the vocals for two songs and their music will be released in 2012. You can follow their journey on Alistmusic on Facebook. Congratulations Jordan, we are very proud of you!

On December 1st, the Beyond 212 Jazz Team Booster Club volunteered to run the concessions at the Clemson vs Illinois Women’s Basketball Game as a fundraiser. We had 14 volunteers who showed up eager to work the game. We were the only group running the concessions for this event. We ran a full concession stand with cooked food, a Dippin Dot booth and a fresh popped pop corn, drinks and candy booth. It’s the beginning of the season and this gets us ready to run the stands for the very busy upcoming men’s games. It truly was a fun filled evening and a great team building event. There is still time to volunteer and our next game is on 17 December. Thank you to everyone who has volunteered with our Booster Club. We look forward to seeing some new faces at the upcoming games!

On Wednesday, November 16, 2011, the Junior Jazz Team completed its very first Project 212 community service project. They were chaperoned by Janice Gordon, Deanna Leslie and Kim Compton. After a fun dinner at Nick Henry’s, they traveled just down the road to Marathon Church. The church has a Food and Clothes Pantry that is available to those in need, whether they are a church member or just from the community.
The Juniors had a variety of jobs, and they were very enthusiastic to get busy. The boys (Adam, Aaron & Romeo) sorted and put away all the shoes (men’s, women’s & children’s). The girls (Erika, Krista, Cierra, & Jackie) got busy with the canned & boxed grocery items. First, they checked for expiration dates, and then they organized and stocked the shelves with the items. They also helped put away clothing that had been donated.
While there, two families came in to get some much-needed items. By the end of the night, they all realized how very fortunate they are and each gained an appreciation for the surpluses of both food and clothing that exists in their own homes. They left excited and ready to continue with this type of service work in our community.
Go JUNIORS. We are very proud of you!

UCDC welcomed back Hip Hop choreographers, ‘Havic’ Gregory and Michele ‘Soulchild’ Garman on 18 – 20 November 2011. This creative and talented team choreographed a Hip Hop number for the Junior Jazz Company and a production piece for the Megas/Juniors and Seniors. It is truly an honor to have them choreograph such amazing dance routines for our studio. Their commitment and dedication to their craft and our dancers is why we keep asking them back to UCDC. We look forward giving our 110% with these dances at our competitions!

On November 11th-13th, 7 Jazz Company members and 1 Hip Hop Company member attended the 2 ½ day optional dance workshop at the downtown Hyatt in Greenville, SC. The dancers had dance technique training in: Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Tap & Jazz Funk. This optional convention had many choreographers that are legends in their dance discipline such as, Mandy Moore, Katy Spreadbury, Mike Minery, Bobby Newberry, Nick Lazzarini, Doug Caldwell and more. They also had a surprise guest choreographer, “So You Think You Can Dance” 2011 winner – Melanie Moore. Mia Michaels just recently announced that she has joined the Jump family and stopped by on Saturday. Congratulations to all the dancers that participated this weekend!

Solo Results:
It’s All Coming Back to Me Now – Madison Capps – Gold

Scholarship Winners:
Immy Armstrong – Hip Hop Scholarship
Olivia Fennell – Ballet Scholarship
Madison Capps – Teen VIP Runner-Up Scholarship

UCDC would like to Congratulate Heather McCall for winning Miss Woodmont High School on Saturday, November 12th. Heather worked with Brooke Williams for her talent, and clogged her way straight to the crown. She also won the photogenic award. Way to go Heather, We are so proud and happy for you.

On Saturday Night, November 12th – Senior Jazz Company member, Reagan Foster danced her way to the crown of Miss Wrenicycle 2011. Along with winning the title, Reagan also won Evening Gown, Casual Wear, Photogenic and Overall Interview. Also competing in the pageant were UCDC students Sydney Freeman who received 2nd Runner up, Emily Sloan who was awarded 3rd runner-up and 2nd runner up in Talent and Amberlyn White who received 1st runner up in talent. Congratulations to all the girls that participated in the pageant and we are especially proud of our UCDC girls.

Here is a letter from the organization:

Dear UCDC “Peewee” Dance Team and Families,
I cannot begin to describe to you the excitement the children felt when they saw the display of books you provided for them. One of the little girls grabbed me and said, “You brought the books!” The children around her were saying, “Can we get one today?” Their eyes just lit up, from the youngest child to the oldest child as they stood beside the table of beautiful books and tried to decide which one they would take home to keep. One mother had her baby cradled in her arms. She asked me if she could select a book for him (as her other two children were busy looking for the books they wanted). I said, “Of course!” She picked up several books before her attention was caught by an alphabet book that was on a display stand. She said, “Can we get that one?” She was so happy to have that beautiful book and I can imagine her teaching her babies the alphabet using those colorful illustrations.

Because of privacy issues, I am unable to send you a picture of the children with their books, but I can tell you that their smiles were huge and their eyes were bright. I appreciate the generosity that your families showed to these adorable children. Maybe these books will be a catalyst to propel these children out of poverty (through books and education) and into a more gentle way of life. If nothing else, these books will provide them with wonderful adventures in their own homes!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

God Bless You,
Tabby Weston

Hebrews 13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

PS Girls, your bookmarks were a HUGE success. The children spent almost as much time selecting the “perfect bookmark” as they did selecting their books.