Flight Dance Team

The 2022-2023 Flight Dance Team, Photo By: Melanie Heard

FOR 2023-2024 AUDITION INFO, CLICK HERE.

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

About The Program:

Flight 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.

Flight dance team members must pass a rigorous audition, and receive a personalized jacket upon acceptance into the team.

Flight's ultimate 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 Dance Team performs in the annual Holly Jolly Follies, and in a Spring Dance Showcase on the mainstage of the Florence Events Center. They are also frequently cast in C.R.O.W.'s Spring Youth Musical.

Auditions are held annually, and the dancers must re-audition each year to keep their spot. To be considered, dancers must have and maintain strong dance technique and be an excellent all around performer. Dancers who are accepted to the team are required to take additional dance classes to build stamina and skills. Priority is placed on teamwork, cooperation, motivation, and overall work ethic. Dancers who do not meet team requirements may be asked to leave the team.

If you have questions, please email: crowtheatrekids@yahoo.com

Photo By Melanie Heard

The 2022-2023 Flight Dance Team

Meet The Dancers:

Zhade Beers

Zhade is 11 years old and is a Flight Dance Team apprentice. Her favorite color is green, her favorite food is Lumpia, and she has loved dancing since she was tiny. Zhade says "I am proud of my multicultural roots, and I am a self proclaimed animal whisperer!"

Haylee Cole

Haylee is 17 years old, and has been dancing since she was 3. She was recently "Queen Elsa" in Frozen Jr. and has a large resume. Haylee loves horses, writing, and going to the beach. She says, "If you're going to be thinking of anything, think BIG."

Sylvia Hand

Sylvia is 15 years old and has performed onstage since 2010. She loves karate, archery, Harry Potter trivia, and writing. She is currently writing a novel about The Dream World and she knows all 118 elements in the periodic table.

Reanna Houlihan

Reanna is 16 and is an Original Member of the Flight Dance Team. Her interests include make-up design, art and dance. Her favorite color is purple. Reanna says "I love to dance because I love music, and it inspires me to dance."

Emma Meier

Emma is 13 and is a Flight Dance Team apprentice. Her favorite food is macaroni and cheese, and she loves "The Nightmare Before Christmas." Emma says "I always do my best to reach my goals and I don't stop trying." She also is a pro at dad jokes.

Elyse Stewart

Elyse is 16 and recently played "Princess Anna" in Frozen Jr. Her favorite food is Sushi and she loves the band Nine Lives. Elyse loves dancing, acting, horseback riding, reading, and crocheting. She says "Live each day as if it were your last."

About The Director:

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.