Flight Dance Team &
Jr. Flight Dance Team

The 2024-2025 Flight Dance Team, Photo By: Melanie Heard

Ages 12+ with dance experience

Ages 8-11 with dance experience

For Audition Information, Click HERE.

“Until you spread your wings, you have no idea how far you’ll fly.”
-Anonymous

About The Program:

The Flight Dance Team was created in 2017, as a way for young dancers of the OR coast to improve technique, expression, and precision in a fun and supportive atmosphere. The Jr. Flight Dance team was added in 2025 as an opportunity for our younger dancers who wish to strengthen their dance training and pursue future opportunities in dance.

Flight & Jr. Flight Dance Team members receive a personalized jacket upon acceptance into the team.

Flight and Jr. Flight's goals include local and regional performances, competitive dance, and providing the community with entertaining and thought provoking works of art, through the power of movement. The Flight and Junior Flight Dance Teams perform in the annual Holly Jolly Follies, the Spring Youth Mainstage Musical, and in a Spring Dance Showcase on the mainstage of the Florence Events Center, plus other events.

Both teams MAY be invited to attend up to 3 dance competitions in nearby larger cities (TBA). Both directors would like to pursue this avenue. However, the decision will be dependent on skills, availability, and overall audition turnout. If there is enough interest, we will pursue this!

Auditions are held annually, and dancers must re-audition each year to maintain their place on the team.

To be considered for team placement, dancers must have and maintain strong dance technique and flexibility, take at least two additional dance classes year round, and be an excellent all around performer. Priority is placed on teamwork, dedication, motivation, individual and team growth mindset, and overall work ethic. Dancers who do not meet team requirements or exhibit negative or divisive behavior may be asked to leave the team.

The Flight Dance Team is Directed and Choreographed by Melanie Heard, C.R.O.W.'s Artistic Director and Founder. The Jr. Flight Dance team is Directed and Choreographed by Elyse Stewart. Please scroll down for bios and photos of the Directors.

If you have questions or would like to request additional information, please email: crowtheatrekids@yahoo.com

Meet The 2024-2025
Flight Dance Team:

Chloe Bilbrey

Chloe loves reading, writing, diamond painting, and of course....dancing! She is 13 and she loves popcorn and the color blue. Chloe says "when you dance, your only goal is convey a message and to touch the souls of those watching."

Kelsi Ferkey

Kelsi loves being on the Flight Dance Team because dance is "very freeing" to her. She is 17 years old, and her favorite animals are cats and alligators. Her favorite colors are red and black. Kelsi says, "I'm unapologetically my true self."

Reese Flescher

Reese is an apprentice on the Flight Dance Team. Bio coming soon.

Hazel Grijalva

Hazel is 11 years old and is an apprentice on the Flight Dance Team. She loves cats, dogs, and the color purple. Her favorite food is chicken tacos. Hazel hopes to become a dentist and a professional dancer. She loves dance because "it makes her happy!"

Auvi King

Auvi is 17 and this is her first year on the Flight Dance Team. She loves horses and dogs, and her favorite style of dance is Jazz. Auvi enjoys reading and horseback riding.
She also loves to dance because it allows her to "express herself creatively."

About The Directors:

Melanie Heard, Director of Flight:

Melanie's first love is and always has been....dance. At age 2.5, she tap danced with an oversized Raggedy Andy doll and from there her dance career took flight. She focused on classical ballet throughout her youth, going on to study with the prestigious Joffrey Ballet Trainee Program of New York, followed by a full scholarship to the Kirov's Universal Ballet Academy in Washington DC. She also studied with Houston Ballet and Ballet West. Eventually, Melanie branched out to other forms of dance through the wonderful world of musical theatre. She learned jazz, tap, swing, salsa, ballroom, character, lyrical, modern, and many other genres. She performed in over 60 mainstage musicals, playing every role from a tap-dancing chorus girl in a West Coast Premiere of Crazy For You, to Sally Bowles in Cabaret, to Evita Peron in Evita. She loves to choreograph all types of dance and won several awards for her work including an ACTF Meritorious Achievement Award for Outstanding Choreography. Melanie is a credentialed teacher with a MAed and Reading Specialist Certificate.

Melanie strongly believes in the power of dance to shape the future for our young people, and to enhance their quality of life. She is tremendously grateful to her family for the dance background that they provided for her, and loves that she can now share that gift with generations of young dancers through C.R.O.W. Melanie hopes you'll celebrate and applaud the successes of the Flight Dance Team. She is immensely proud of each and every young dancer.

Elyse Stewart, Director of Junior Flight:

Elyse was born in Billings, Montana and moved to Florence in 2010, where her family has well established roots. In 2014, Elyse began her journey with C.R.O.W. Elyse says, "Wow what a ride it has been!" She has performed in multiple mainstage musicals including portraying the roles of "Sandy" in The SpongeBob Musical and "Princess Anna" in Frozen Jr., plus multiple roles in The Holly Jolly Follies, Haunted Mazes, Dance Showcases, as well as many other events. Elyse attended the 2024 Summer Intensive Program with the Joffrey Ballet in New York and San Francisco.

Elyse has soaked up every bit of training available to her, always giving her all. Elyse has training in many areas from silks, Lyra (aerial hoops), tap, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, and her favorite - ballet/pointe. She has worked with a multitude of instructors over the years, as well as being a part of the Flight Dance Team for 4 years.

Elyse is excited for this new chapter in her journey as Director of Jr. Flight. Elyse says, "I look forward to sharing my knowledge with my young dancers, and I absolutely love to help fulfill C.R.O.W’s mission to provide high-quality Arts education to our community."

Flight Dance Team & Jr. Flight Dance Team