By Betty Gandee
Bringing the art of dance to Clay County has always been a passion for Terri King. She has been active in the Clay County After School Program teaching students dance numbers to perform during the winter and spring recitals held at Clay County High School. Parents come out to watch their children perform these original pieces put together by King. In addition to visiting each grade school in the county, King also holds a private dance class where she teaches students once a week.
Staying busy with dance is an understatement when it comes to Miss Terri. For the past several years she has strived to make the King Cove Mermaid Show something grand during the summer season. This past summer, the show had a large amount to participants from all over the county, and it was an amazing tale of mermaids, sharks, and pirates.
With hard work and dedication, hours of practice and rehearsals pay off. This past weekend the King’s Cove Performing Arts and Aquatics dance students performed at in the 2019 Star Quest Dance Competition at the Clay Center in Charleston, WV. Kids from all ages hit the stage to show they had what it took to advance to the next competition.
Terri’s girls came out on top in many divisions. Eight-year-old Abigail Grandon scored second place for her vocal solo, “Spoon Full of Sugar” while dressed like Mary Poppins. Tabitha King, 11 years old, won fourth place for her solo, singing Tightrope Acapella. The mini dancers: Kinsley and Kourtney Murphy, Lyla Titas, Emma Stephens, Emma McCallister, Brea Holcomb, Josie Frame, Acelyn Tanner, and Reagan Holcomb (all aged 4-7) won second place titles.
The Acrobat Trio group won first place and Top Score overall with their “Children of A Miracle” routine, and was comprised of sisters Chelsea, 14, and Cheyenne, 9, along with Tabitha King. Tabitha King and Abigail Grandon won all around Top Score second place with their Jazz duet “ Stand by You.”
Terri says, “It has been a great pleasure working with these girls and I couldn’t be prouder of them.” These dancers range in age 4-14 and she says they are displaying great sportsmanship at all times and welcoming friends from other dance companies, which is a perfect example of what King Cove is all about. Terri herself earned the honor of Best Choreographer for her routines.
These girls really showed up to wow and impress the judges, scoring them the chance to advance to the finals in Orlando Florida in world famous Disney World. Look for chances to help these young ladies make their dreams a reality in the near future. Fundraising efforts are underway to help send Clay County’s dancers to Florida.