09/16/2015
Thank you to all who attended our 50th year celebration event! It was truly wonderful to see so many friends from over the years! We are deeply grateful to all of you for all of the incredible support we have and continue to receive, whether you are or have been a student, family member of a student, or friend of the program. Without you -- each and every one of you -- we simply would not have been able to establish such a wonderful tradition for our city and local community. A special thanks to all of the sponsors who helped to make the celebration event possible, including Fritz Enterprises, Huron Valley Steel, Wayne County Community College District, World Heritage Foundation Prechter Family Fund, Jackson-Snider-Parker Dentistry, D&L Garden Center, Taylor Rotary, Taylor Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #123, The Envelope Printery, Curtain Call Costumes, & Silver Shores Waterfront. Many thanks also to Erin Dobbins and the volunteers who helped organize and staff the event as well as Karl Ziomek, who captured the highlights of the celebration with both a generous article and pictures (follow the link below). Thanks again to all of you for making our 50th year celebration such a wonderful, memorable event!
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.538930249594163.1073741947.191858420968016&type=3&pnref=story
Hundreds to people attended Sunday's (September 13) "Taylor Dance: 50 Years of Joy" inside the Sheridan Center Open Air Pavilion inside Heritage Park.
The gala was a celebration of Taylor Dance founder Joy Squire, who started the organization back in 1966.
The huge crowd not only included current dancers and instructors, but alumni who performed under Squire's instruction, city and state officials, as well as other fans of the performing arts in the Downriver area.
The first classes in tap and jazz were taught in the gymnasium of a local elementary school. Since its beginning, the program has grown considerably and is now recognized as one of the premier dance training centers in Metropolitan Detroit. Today, hundreds of students from 32 southeastern Michigan cities take classes with Taylor Dance.
Former Mayor Cameron Priebe attended the event, and took time to speak about those humble beginnings of the program along with how, over the course of time, it has made him a fan of dance.
Current Mayor Rick Sollars took the stage to speak about how Joy Squire's commitment to dance and her City has helped define a certain "sense of community." He called Squire a credit to Taylor, and compared the job she does with female dancers to what the City's Little Leagues have done for boys over the decades. "Many of her former students have turned into professional dancers as well as tremendous adults," he said.
Sollars presented Joy Squire with a City proclamation. State Rep. Erika Geiss, a former dancer herself (but not with Taylor Dance), presented her with a proclamation signed by herself, State Sen. Hoon Yung Hopgood and Gov. Rick Snyder.
Erin Dobbins, who helped create the event, said privately that one of the most important things that Joy Squire has done with Taylor Dance is keep it affordable.
"Dance can be very expensive," she said. "But Joy recognized that, and has always kept the price down. Many studios get in a month what Joy charges for a year. That's a very important factor in the success of Taylor Dance."
Throughout the years, that commitment to affordable, quality dance instruction in a professional, family-friendly environment has driven the program's success. The dedication of all those involved has made Taylor Dance and its regional ballet company, Ballet Americana, a magnet that draws people together, both as performers and spectators, for the mutual enjoyment of the art.
Literally thousands of students across several generations have taken dance lessons at Taylor Dance, making the company a recognized tradition for downriver residents. Our alumni have moved on to professional careers, both in the United States and Europe, in motion pictures, television and print commercials, videos, on collegiate and professional sport dance teams, and with major dance companies.
Taylor Dance's state-of-the-art studios are located in the Taylor Recreation Center. It has enjoyed a strong working relationship with the City of Taylor for over 40 years in its effort to promote art and raise the quality of life in our area. The mayor and city council, as advocates of the arts in the community, have remained steadfast in their support of our goals and accomplishments.
The regular dance season coincides closely with the school year, beginning in September and continuing through the following May.
Summer intensive workshops are held for a number of age groups with advanced students, age 12 and older, receiving instruction from both faculty instructors and featured guest teachers. Professionals who have been recent guest instructors at Taylor Dance, include: Holly Silvers from Broadway Dance Center, Keith Clifton from Los Angeles, world-renowned ballet coach, David Howard, Peter Sparling from the University of Michigan, and well-known choreographer Bill Evans.
Younger students attend, and many receive scholarships to, prestigious summer programs, including: School of the American Ballet Theatre (SAB), Houston Ballet, Boston Ballet, and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Professional ballet dancers from NYC Ballet, ABT, Boston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and other companies perform with Ballet Americana on a regular basis.
Joy's son, Carl, served as master of ceremonies for Sunday's program. It consisted of a VIP greeting hour as the dancer's readied themselves, followed by the performance of different groups, and finally a family fun time with circus performers, a band and plenty of food and refreshments.
