Aimee Struck attended the 2012 Just For Kix Annual Convention with over 145 Just For Kix youth program directors from Minnesota, North Dakota, Texas, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Colorado and South Dakota.

The 2012 directors convention was held at the Just For Kix Brainerd/Baxter Dance Studio and the The Legacy at Cragun’s Resort Aug. 5- 7.

Cindy Clough, the executive director and founder of Just For Kix, praised the work and dedication of each director.

“This year our director’s convention focused on technique and curriculum to allow our directors and their dancers the ability to soar,” said Clough. “We need to remind our directors that the skills they teach in class not only affect their technical dancing, but also give them the foundation for life skills, too. The culmination of these skills, we believe, give our dancers a platform to soar.”

Struck has been the Albert Lea Just For Kix Director for 16 years.

“This year was one of the best conventions I have attended through Just For Kix,” Struck said. “It was motivating and encouraged me to be even more committed to our youth and their personal and performance growth. I am very excited for our upcoming season and feel it will be our best yet.”

A highlight of the convention was the launch of a Just For Kix effort to create awareness and educate youth and their families about bullying.

The convention also offered multiple educational and programming classes to assist in furthering the director’s dance curriculum knowledge and sessions on resources for program development.

Julie Davidge, the Just For Kix youth programs manager, said the overall experience allowed directors to come to collaborate and engage with the Just For Kix home office staff and other directors from across the country.

“Bringing all our directors to Brainerd is a highlight of our year,” Davidge said. “We take care of business for the upcoming season and discuss ways to continue to enrich the teaching and performances for our youth dance teams.”

For 28 years Just For Kix has held a directors convention. Just For Kix orchestrates youth dance programs in 10 states at nearly 200 locations engaging more than 20,000 youth dancers.

For more information visit justforkix.com or for the local program; justforkix.com/danceclasses/albertlea_mn.