Meet Sophia | Dogwood Dance Company Feature | Year Seven
This is my seventh year working with Dogwood’s Dance Company and showcasing their talents through my camera. It has been such an honor getting to know so many dancers over the years, As a former middle school teacher I love this age and it fills my heart to get to know these dancers and work them in such a fun setting every year!
The Dogwood Dance Company was established in 2016. It is an audition-based student dance company from Dogwood Middle School, an arts integrated school located in Richmond, VA. Company members study Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Improvisation, and Composition within the Binford dance program. The company has performed throughout the community including: The 2019 Superintendent’s State of the Schools Address, Generation Dream, Richmond Public Schools Fine Arts Festival, Strawberry Street Festival, Appomattox Regional Governor’s School for the Arts and Technology, Petersburg Home for Ladies, and Cedarfield Retirement Community. The company also had the opportunity to perform in the music videos “Have It All” and “Love Is Still The Answer” by Jason Mraz. The Dogwood Dance Company inspires students to find their own voice through performance and choreography while learning valuable skills in the rehearsal process including collaboration, respect, and confidence.
This year the company dancers met at the Branch Muesuem and chose their favorite spots to showcase their movement and choreography they have learned through this year’s dance curriculum.
MEET Sophia
Sophia - 8th Grade
Hello! My name is Sophia and I am in the eighth grade and this is my second year in Dance Company at Dogwood Middle School. I love to dance because I can express myself in my movements. I dance as storytelling and showing off my skills. This year has had some ups and downs, but I really enjoyed it. I really appreciate Ms. Perkinson and giving us the opportunity to perform in different places and also have an opportunity for this photo shoot. It was an amazing experience also with Kat, she helped us with our photos to make sure that they were good and at their best. I love everybody in this company. They have been so nice and caring. We’ve always looked out for each other and as this is our last year as eighth graders, I will definitely miss them. Dance company was definitely the highlight of both of my years in Dogwood, formerly known as Binford. I really recommend trying out for Dance Company if you are a new coming student at Dogwood because Ms. Perkinson is an amazing teacher and coach. Also you have amazing opportunities to improve your dancing and show off your skills to the world!
