"Let's Dance"

Fairfield Central is an amazing school, from its academics to its Beta Club and outstanding team of SGA members, even down to the students and teachers that roam the halls. Inside the walls of Fairfield Central, there’s a place students come to move and connect with themselves and others. That place to many people is the dance room. For the past eleven years, Melissa McCrary has been the dance teacher. When she first arrived dance was just a class offered through the day as a part of the visual and performing arts department. Through the past eight years, Mrs. McCrary has developed the Griffin Elite Dance Company. Additionally, on last year she created a competition team in attempts to rekindle the program that previously existed before Fairfield Middle School dance teacher Ms. Bradberry left the district. We asked Mrs. McCrary how she thinks the team is doing in competitions, and to this she responded, “I am most proud of the team for their dedication to their craft and their perseverance through the obstacles we have faced. We are a young team and not the most experienced, but they practice twice a week and get out on the stage in our competitions and give it everything they’ve got. They have made great strides and grown so much as a team and as individuals since the summer when we started.” I also asked a student to describe the team and the company. Bryant Seibles, who is a senior at FCHS, stunt captain, and a four year member of the company responded, “for me to be on the team it helps me realize how it feels to create something in your mind and transform it into being able to actually do it yourself, then teaching it to the rest of the team. Finally watching your vision come true and see your stunts performed on a stage.” I also asked Bryant how long had he been a part of dance team, and what his advice to upcoming dancers would be. He responded, ¨I didn’t start dance until I was in high school. I never really wanted to be in dance until I saw the dance team perform. I said that’s me, that’s what I want to do, and I did. My advice to anyone wanting to dance would be to start as early as possible and practice, practice, practice, and to never give up.” I was also able to talk with a graduate of Fairfield Central who was a part of the dance company, and was the very definition of not letting things bring you down. She is now an intern with Mrs. McCrary, and enjoys performing and teaching dance herself. Katelyn Haney gave her opinion of the company, “I am excited to see dance of this caliber here at FCHS. I am proud to be a part of all that they have accomplished in this first year.” The competition team recently competed at Lugoff-Elgin High School, where they placed 2nd in the Lyrical category, and performed a tribute to the late Sammy Cornelius. The team placed 3rd in the overall high school division.

The team, alongside a few people from the dance company, had the amazing opportunity to perform in front of the South Carolina State House. They performed a piece titled, “I Am A Reflection: Moving Stories,” that was created in collaboration with artist-in-residence, Camerin Watson. The students responded to writing prompts about their feelings toward their community, school, state, and nation. Then together, wrote a poem to accompany the movement. The poem was read by Fairfield Central students, faculty, and administrators, making it a truly collaborative effort throughout the school. The dance shared a message to stand united while everyone is different. The dance also paid tribute to several schools who have been impacted by tragedies such as school shootings. The students finished the piece by standing in a line holding hands and saying, “I am!-,” and filling in the blank with words of positivity about themselves. The company’s performance at the SC State House for Arts Advocacy Day sparked the question… what is Arts Advocacy Day? Julianne Neal, the Fairfield County School District Coordinator for Visual and Performing Arts, talked to us about Arts Advocacy Day. She explained that Arts Advocacy Day is a day where we recognize the different forms of art such as drama, dance, theatre, etc. District 17 Senator Mike Fanning posted on Facebook “Fairfield Central High School dancers ROCK the state house! I am the proudest Senator on planet Earth...So proud of Principal Tracie Swilley, Dance Teacher Melissa Todd McCrary, Julianne Neal and the entire Griffin Family for your support of the arts...and growing amazing talent in our students.”