The Arts@Grier_1

Grier's Advanced Jazz Competition Team Keeps Advancing!

By Amanda Hughes '07

Over the last six years, building on the strong foundation laid by former instructor Yvette, the Grier School's Dance program has been advancing. During her time at Grier, the team's current leader and instructor, Jocelyn Labriola, has expected nothing but the best from the Advanced Jazz Competition Team, which competes annually; this year's effort at the Dance Educators of America show in Pittsburgh was better than ever.

photo by Remy DuPasquier (French teacher)

After receiving a gold medal for last year's competition piece, "Seven Army Nation," Joci has had very high standards for the team; she has made the choreography more complex; and, she took several more dances to the competition this year.

Joci's contemperary piece, "Fear," featuring Ko Eun Lee, was well recieved by the Grier School community during the Christmas performances, as was Ko Eun's solo peice, "The Embrace." After working every day for months, it was finally time for the team to go to Pittsburgh and compete.

The girls, accompained by Joci, departed from Grier on March 24th for the Dance Educators of America competition. Joci took four dances featuring the Grier Girls. A contemperary piece set to French music featured a more select ensemble of the team, and received a gold medal, as well as 3rd overall in its catagory. The team also received 3rd and 4th High Score. A hip-hop piece to Missy Elliot's "Lose Control" featuring the whole company, also received a gold medal, and won 4th place overall in the Line Catagory. Ko Eun Lee brought back a bronze medal for her solo peice. "Fear," featuring the whole company, came back with a gold medal, and won 5th place overall.

The competition team has many talented dancers. This year's team featured Ko Eun Lee, Eun Joo Choi, Ye Seul Kim, Khalidah Plummer, Monica Leal, Courtnee Ford, Na-Ree Jung, Hyun Ju Kim, Andrea Macia-Jimenez, Ah Won Choi, Crista Chang, and Stephanie Heintzman.