The Power of Dance: Group builds confidence, friendships while performing
Members of the Star Power Dance Team are (front, left to right) Liam Seevers, Cairo Sweetmoon; (middle) Kora Grubb, Anna Lewis, Josalyn Lewis, Emma Parish, Scarlett Seevers, Lillian Gilliland; (back) Lily Metzger, Ruby Schulz, Lydia Bly, Elsa Trentin and Xyza Thomas.
From parades and car shows to festivals and telethons, the Star Power Dance Team’s high-energy performances have become a beloved part of community celebrations. Here, they’re performing with a Minion theme for the McGregor Halloween Parade and Festival. (Photo by Audrey Posten)
By Audrey Posten | Times-Register
From parades and car shows to festivals and telethons, the Star Power Dance Team’s high-energy performances have become a beloved part of community celebrations in Clayton and Crawford counties in recent years.
Tina Parker, who grew up dancing and later choreographed for teams and in schools, started Star Power around seven years ago. Jamie Parish began helping—particularly with photography/videography and events—around five years ago, when her daughter Emma joined.
The two oversee the group of 16 or 17 dancers, ranging from 5 to 12 years old, although “there’s really no age limit,” Parker commented.
Star Power meets year-round, with practices at the Guttenberg Municipal Building from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and at the Garnavillo Community Center from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Fridays. This schedule allows the leaders and dancers to perform to fun themes and songs throughout the year.
Instead of competitions, they focus on events. A trophy party during the year, with food and drinks, recognizes those who have performed at various shows.
“That’s one of my favorite parts,” said Ruby Schulz, who’s been with Parker since the beginning and is now an assistant. “We do all kinds of things. We get out more.”
Star Power is also not genre-specific.
“They do role playing,” described Parker, “and they all dance as a team and do the same thing. Some who’ve been here longer have their own solos they do, when they’re brave enough.”
Upcoming events dictate the songs—and choreography—for Star Power performances. German and Oktoberfests have German music, for example, while McGregor’s Halloween Parade and Festival and Festival of Trees have tunes befitting the holidays. Parker gravitates toward pop and classic rock. Nothing slow.
“We’ve got two car shows coming up, so that will be songs like ‘Grease Lightning,’” Parker said.
Dancers Emma Parish and Cairo Sweetmoon, who’ve both been involved for around five years, said Halloween is often their favorite theme. Schulz prefers summertime songs.
“They’re upbeat and you get a lot of dance moves in—a lot we haven’t seen before,” Schulz said.
Star Power enjoys performing in front of crowds around the area.
“When we first started, I used to call around and try to find places for them to perform. Now, they call us. We don’t compete, so the kids are just having fun being up in front of people,” Parker said.
She feels it builds confidence, not only in dance, but life in general.
When Sweetmoon first started, he was afraid to perform.
“I used to have really bad stage fright. I got scared if somebody is watching me,” he said. Now, he’s one of the group’s regular soloists.
“It helps all of them learn how to focus, and it builds their self-esteem,” commented Parker.
Parish, too, feels the kids are resilient in sometimes-intimidating situations. They’ve performed on live TV, for the Eagles Heart and Cancer Telethon in Prairie du Chien, and in tricky weather conditions.
“If it’s raining, they do amazing. If it’s 100 degrees on the Fourth of July, they do amazing. They have surpassed all expectations,” she said.
Parker loves watching the dancers grow their confidence and skills.
“We’ve got little ones out there doing cartwheels now,” she said. “When they see the older ones doing cartwheels, they have to learn do them too. They really form as a team.”
As a team leader and a parent, Parish has seen how the kids develop friendships with one another. They don’t all go to the same school, but they bond being together twice a week and through performing.
Daughter Emma agreed.
“You should join because it’s really fun and you can make lots of friends here,” she said.
Schulz said Star Power’s non-pressure and care-free, yet structured, environment has helped nurture confidence and friendships.
“‘As long as you’re having fun’ is basically our motto,” she said. “We don’t compete or put any pressure. Even if someone can’t do [a move] exactly as someone else does, it doesn’t matter, as long as you’re participating and having fun. You’re allowed to be yourself, and everyone will support you.”
Because of this, “some of the best memories I have are here at dance,” Schulz added.
Parker welcomes new students to join any time, no experience necessary. She can be reached at (608) 412- 6114 for more information. The first class is always free, to see if the child likes it.
