Video Contest 2021
AIMED DANCER OF THE YEAR
1st Place Winners
receiving a $1000 educational scholarship
Keeley Dunnam received her B.F.A. in Dance focused in choreography and performance from the University of North Texas in 2018 where she studied with Shelly Cushman, Robin Lakes, Amiti Perry, Whitney Geldon, Karen MacIntyre, Claudia Howard-Queen, Sue Collins, and Mary Lynn Babcock. She is a candidate for her M.F.A at Sam Houston State University to be completed in 2022 where she is studying under Dionne and Andy Noble, Dana Nicolay, Jennifer Pontious, Adele Nickel, and Joshua Manculich. Keeley originally started dancing at four years old at The Dance Academy and trained in a variety of styles including ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, tap, musical theater, and hip-hip. In 2008, she danced with Lone Star Ballet and performing the roles of Spanish corps, Waltz corps, Snow corps, and Arabian corps in the Nutcracker in 2009-10. She has performed two years with AmpDance and the Odysseus Chamber Orchestra in Transfigured Night, and Appalachian Spring. Other strong influences on training Keeley danced with imPULSE Dance Project (under the artistic direction of Anastasia Waters) for two seasons from 2016-2018, and performed various works at Dallas Dance Fest, 254 Festival, and Brazos Dance Festival. Her work, “NArrow is the Way” was showcased in imPULSE Dance Project’s annual summer show in 2018. Keeley continues to focus her choreographic works towards building community by using movement as a means to communicate about social and political issues.
Being a dancer usually starts when you are 3 years old, though my story began a little differently than most. My dancing commenced in 6th grade and instantly I fell in love. I knew that dance wasn't going to be something I could just waltz on in and be great at, so at that point I decided to work for every little thing dance had to offer. My pivotal point, which led to a spiral effect, was in 7th grade. I tried out for 3 different companies and made zero. Not much of an accomplishment, right? But instead of stopping there, I used that failure to fuel my motivation and perseverance which resulted in making all 3 companies the next year. This accomplishment pushed me even further to make the pre-professional company, become a leader on my school dance team, and inspired me to continue dance into college next year.
2nd Place Winners
receiving a $500 educational scholarship
Brittany Gonzales, originally from Houston, TX, is currently working on her Bachelor’s of Science in Theatre and Dance with an emphasis in Dance at Lamar University. Brittany started dancing at the age of fourteen when she joined her High School Dance/Drill team. This is where she discovered her passion for the art of dance. Throughout her four years on the Drill team she performed at many different High School events and showcased her ability to adapt to different styles of dance including Pom, Jazz, Hip-Hop, and Contemporary/Lyrical. For her Junior and Senior year, Brittany was named the Captain of her team. Earning this Leadership position increased her experience with creating and teaching choreography. It also provided the opportunity to become knowledgeable in dance technique which she proudly used to encourage and develop her team. To financially assist the team, Brittany created and demonstrated choreography through various fundraisers. This allowed Brittany to develop talent in the youth in her community. An experience she found very rewarding. In 2019 she had the privilege to be a Texas Educators Dance Association All-State Dancer and that same year she led her team to win a State Championship Title while also being awarded as a Dance competition solo finalist. Since joining the Lamar University Theatre and Dance Department, Brittany is the Historian and one of the founders of The National Dance Honor Society, Chi Tau Epsilon here at Lamar University. Brittany has enjoyed expanding her knowledge of movement and looks forward to learning and experiencing it even more.
Joslyn is thirteen years old and started dance when she was three years old at Kristina’s Studio of Dance in Sherman, TX. When she was six she moved to Amber Blanchard’s School of Dance in Fannett, TX. Joslyn has been doing competitive dance for five years at her recent studio and has had multiple solos. She has really found her passion for dance in the past year and wants to pursue dancing into her future. Joslyn wants to one day get a degree in dance and open her own dance studio in Houston.
3rd Place Winners
receiving a $250 educational scholarship
I am 18 years old and I attend Lamar University. I have been dancing for nine years and this is my first tear teaching at Mariposa School of Dance. I have also been a guest artist for three consecutive years with the Woodlands Ballet Company and this past year with Beaumont Civic Ballet. I have also studied with the Debbie Allen Dance Academy for two summers in a row. I also got the chance to receive a scholarship from the Dance Revolution Convention to attend Project Dance. I am apart many organizations outside of dance. I am the former 1st vice president of an organization named Top Teens of America and former vice president of the NAACP Youth Council. Other dance works I have performed in is Port Arthur ISD’s Memorial HS Fine Arts’ “The Wiz”, “The Color Purple”, and “Annie” I had a feature performance in Port Arthur Little Theater’s “Fame”. I have been awarded many scholarships and awards from various dance competitions and conventions.
