Excellence in Maggie Valley

"We are what we repeatedly do.
Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit."
- Aristotle

I continue to be blessed with excellence. Excellence in love, excellence in life, excellence in business, and excellence in my dancers.

The American Clogging Hall of Fame (ACHF) recognizes excellent dancers from around the country through their All American teams. An All American dancer is inducted to these prestigious teams because of their love, dedication, knowledge, and advocacy of Clogging and also for their sportsmanship at competitions and their representation of Clogging to the public. Nominations are sent to ACHF from many instructors from around the country. This year, the ACHF chose 18 dancers for their Junior All American Team and 22 dancers for their All American team, and I endured a few more excellent experiences.

Rebecca Landrum, one of my dancers, was inducted to the American Clogging Hall of Fame Junior All American team. Rebecca has only been dancing four years, but her love for Clogging shows to everyone she knows. She proudly totes her book bag that reads "Clogger" through her high school, and, during downtime at volleyball matches, I notice her feet jumping around as she "stands" on the court waiting for the next serve.

Rebecca, unlike her Clogging teammates, was not blessed with an ear for music. She has to put more time, thought, and effort into perfecting a step that some of her teammates can pick up in a second. However, I don't think I have ever heard her mutter "I can't do it." It's always "Just give me a minute. I'll get it."On Friday, October 22, I presented Becca with her Junior All American jacket. I was sitting next to her when her name was called... and I almost went deaf. Becca screams when she is excited... In case you didn't notice in the picture above, Becca and I look a lot alike. That's because she is my niece. Clogging is in her blood.


The following Saturday night, October 23, the inductees were announced for the All American team. Becca had received the Junior All American team induction and Emily Kimble, another dancer of mine, received the Junior honor last year. However, this year, I was able to present one of my dancers with a white All American jacket, an honor that I had received in 2008. My first "All American" was none other than my dancer partner, Graham Kershner.

Graham has been with me since the start of Sundance. He was my first student. Five years ago, when I started teaching him, I would have never guessed that today we would be performing together professionally. In addition, we perform with our theatre group, Mountain Valley Players. (In the last show, I told one of the ladies in the cast that if I couldn't find Graham in the theatre all I had to do was listen and follow the "pitter-patter" of his feet. Coincidentally, I can also use the same trick to locate Rebecca.)

From the time Graham was little, he wanted to entertain, act, and, of course, dance, just like his idol Fred Astaire. He is now 18 and, as you saw in my last blog post, has taken many steps to put himself in a prime position to make Clogging and entertaining part of his career. "To ask Graham not to dance and entertain is to ask him not to breathe." That is what I told the All American Nomination Committee, and it's the truth. He was born to be on a stage, and always puts 150% of himself into a performance. He is a perfectionist. "Good enough" is never enough for him, and I wouldn't have it any other way. He keeps me on my toes... in more ways than one. :)

As if having two of my dancers on the team wasn't enough, my best friend, Lisa Johnson, also made the All American team.
Lisa, who was at one time my instructor, taught me how to dance, how to teach, and how to perform. She took me to my first competition and I won my first solo trophy under her direction. She provided me with the knowledge I need to choreography award-winning routines and teach award-winning dancers. She provided me with the knowledge to make my dream come true, and she truly deserved that white jacket before I received mine.


The cherry on top came during the performance of the All American team. Lisa, the lady who taught me everything, partnered with Graham, my first student at Sundance and my professional dance partner. Graham would roll his eyes at my sappiness, but, yes, a tear slid down my cheek as I took the picture below.