Albert Lea dance director gets local youth ready for dance classes by attending annual convention

Published 9:19 pm Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Holly Jackson, program director with Albert Lea Just For Kix, attended the 2018 Just For Kix annual convention with over 170 Just For Kix Youth program directors from Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Texas, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Florida and South Dakota. The 2018 directors convention was at Forestview Middle School and The Legacy at Cragun’s Resort June 24 to 26. Head instructors Mitzi Lehocky and Shayla Heggestad also attended the education convention.

Holly Jackson has been the Albert Lea Just For Kix director for three years and with the company for 12 years coaching area youth. 

“The convention is a wonderful time to network with other coaches in the area and gain inspiration and ideas,” Jackson said. “I am motivated and inspired that this will be a fantastic season, and I am looking forward to seeing our dancers grow.”

Holly Jackson, program director, middle, is pictured with Shayla Heggestad, left, and Mitzi Lehocky, right, as they attend the Just For Kix Dance Convention at Legacy Golf Course in Brainerd. – Provided

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The convention offered multiple educational and programming classes to assist in furthering the director’s dance curriculum and sessions on resources for program development. One of the director favorites is learning choreography for the upcoming performance season. Classes offered included hip-hop, jazz, kick, lyrical and ballet.

“Directors convention is a highlight of our year,” said Julie Davidge, Just For Kix programs manager. “The collaboration that happens between our directors over the days we spend together is inspiring. Our directors immerse themselves in dance and focus on improving technique, new choreography, motivational skills and ideas for curriculum enrichment. At the end of the day everyone leaves inspired and ready to take on the new season.”

For 32 years, Just For Kix has held a directors convention. Just For Kix orchestrates youth dance programs in 12 states at nearly 210 locations engaging over 22,000 youth dancers.

The Albert Lea Just For Kix Dance program offers kick, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop, tap and musical theater dance classes for youth ages 2 1/2 to 18. Students can enroll at anytime. To learn more, visit www.justforkix.com/danceclasses or contact Holly Jackson at albertlea_mn@justforkix.com.