Flight Dance Team & Jr. Flight Dance Team
Auditions for the 2026-2027 Flight and Jr. Flight Dance Teams will be held on Wednesday, April 29th at 6:30 PM at C.R.O.W. For detailed information, CLICK HERE.
“Until you spread your wings, you have no idea how far you’ll fly.”
-Anonymous
About The Program:
The Flight and Jr. Flight Dance Teams were established in 2017 and 2025 to provide young dancers on the Oregon Coast with the opportunity to develop technique, expression, and precision in a professional-caliber team environment.
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Team goals include:
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Local and regional performances
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Competitive dance opportunities
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Creating entertaining and thought-provoking works of art through the power of movement
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Both teams perform in C.R.O.W.’s annual Holly Jolly Follies, Spring Youth Mainstage Musical, and Spring Dance Showcase at the Florence Events Center, as well as at dance competitions and community outreach events.
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Flight and Jr. Flight dancers serve as role models, mentors, and representatives of the C.R.O.W. Fine Arts program. Dancers accepted to the team receive a personalized team jacket.
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Auditions are held annually. Dancers must either be invited to return or re-audition each year.
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Dancers must:
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Maintain strong technique across multiple dance genres
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Demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement
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Enroll in at least two additional dance classes at C.R.O.W. year-round
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Prioritize team commitments while maintaining outside responsibilities (including academics)
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Exhibit a growth mindset, strong work ethic, and positive attitude
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Attend and participate in all required events
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Adhere to all team policies, including attendance requirements
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Dancers who fail to meet team expectations or exhibit negative or divisive behavior may be removed from the team.
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Flight and Jr. Flight dancers may not participate on additional dance teams or represent another dance studio in any capacity.
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For additional details including Team Expectations, please visit the Flight Audition page.
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For questions or additional information, please email artisticdirector@crowkids.com
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About The Directors:
Melanie Heard, Director of Flight:
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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:
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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."
