AMY HABEL (Artistic Director)
Years in Crossroads: 9th year as the Artistic Director for Crossroads
My Bio:
Dancing has been a huge part of my life for over 25 years. I began dancing at age 3 at Fredericksburg Ballet Centre (FBC) in Fredericksburg, VA. I danced at FBC for 17 years where I studied a variety of dance styles including: ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre, & hip-hop. I also performed for 4 years in the studio's Senior Dance Company. During this time I had the opportunity to train with instructors such as Susan Massey, Melanie Richards, & Arnott Mader from Richmond Ballet as well as, attend conventions through Dance Masters & Dance Educators of America.
Even though I loved these other forms of dance, in 2000, I decided to focus my dance training specifically on Irish Dance. I began my training through attending various workshops and classes held throughout VA as at the time I was also attending college at Virginia Commonweath Univeristy (VCU). From 2005-2009, I trained with Danny Tighe, TCRG where I competed all the way to the Champion level. Currently, I am training with Joni Muggivan TCRG.
I have had the opportunity to work and attend classes with many great teachers and dancers including: dancers from "Riverdance" including Padraic Moyles TCRG, Craig Ashurst TCRG Niamh O'Connor Kevin Horton, Maeve and Rachael Harris from Busch Garden's "Emerald Beat".
In 2001, I became the Artistic Director for Crossroads Irish Dance Troupe and have continued to thoroughly enjoy coaching and choreographing for the troupe. I am currently preparing to take my T.C.R.G. exam administer by the Irish Dancing Commission in order to obtain my Irish dance certification.
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Katherine Boltz (Co-Director)
DANCE EXPERIENCE:
I began my dance education at the age of 7 with the Loudon School of Ballet in Leesburg VA. There I trained in Ballet and Irish Step dancing. At the age of 10 I joined the Celtic Rhythm School of dance and began performing in their company. While with the company I had the opportunity to choreograph my own solos as well as group pieces for the company. During my time with the company I took master classes with Colin Dunn, Jean Butler, and Riverdance. I began competing in 2002 under the O'Neil-James School of Irish Dance, and just before leaving for college I moved into the championship level. I now compete with the Muggivan School of Irish Dance under Joni Muggivan, TCRG.
I currently attend Sweet Briar College, and in December will graduate with a BA in Dance. While attending Sweet Briar, I have had to opportunity to choreograph my own works as well as direct a two-night show. Sweet Briar has also given the opportunity to teach in there after school dance program, where I teach Irish Step. In the spring of my Junior year I studied abroad in Ireland at the University of Limerick. While at UL I took classes in Irish history, folklore, music and dance. This journey has influenced both how I dance and how I choreograph.
WHEN I AM NOT DANCING...
I am watching Criminal Minds, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings and Star Wars!!!!!
FUTURE PLANS:
After graduating in December I plan to live in Richmond and train with Joni Muggivan in both dancing and teaching. I plan on sitting for my TCRG in October 2012, and opening my own dance academy that same year.
WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT CROSSROADS:
Sense of community.
FAVORITE QUOTE
”Not all who wander are lost.” J.R.R Tolkien.
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KAITLEN P. (SR. Team/4 yr Veteran)
YEARS ON TEAM: 4th year
BIO: This is my 4th year in Crossroads Irish Dance Troupe and have loved every minute of it. This is my 13th year of dance training, including ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, modern, and lyrical. I goes to Thomas Dale Specialty Center for the Visual and Performing Arts as a dance major.
WHEN I AM NOT DANCE... I love to hang out with friends and traveling.
FUTURE PLANS: After I graduate I would like to study anthropology and archeology with a minor in business and would like to somehow work dance into my life too.
WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT CROSSROADS: Kaitlen's favorite part of being a Crossroads dancer is the great training she gets from Amy and Catherine, all of the events that they get to perform at, and the great friends shes made with the girls in the troupe.
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KIRA G. (SR. Team/3 yr Veteran)
YEARS IN CROSSROADS: 3rd year Dancer
DANCE EXPERIENCE: This is my 7th year of Irish dancing and my 6th year under the instruction of Miss Amy Habel at Jessica Morgan School of dance. This is my third year working as an assistant teacher for Miss Amy. I have trained under the direction of Danny Tighe, TCRG. I have competed in two-school feisanna, as well as other feisanna. I have taken a master class with members of the River Dance troupe, and I have taken ballet classes for technique at the School of Richmond Ballet for two years. Last summer, I was the dance captain for SPARC's 2009 production of Once on This Island, Jr.
WHEN I AM NOT DANCE.... I play french horn in the Symphonic band and the Mellophone in the marching band at my high school. I am part of the Humanities program my high s chool. I also play the piano and video games (when I have time). I enjoy reading, cooking/ baking whatever recipes look good, and hanging out with my friends.
FUTURE PLANS: I want to become a Aeronautical engineer/technician and work for NASA. I also want to live in Alaska and own many Siberian huskies.
WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT CROSSROADS: What I like most about Crossroads is the camaraderie. The troupe is like a big family. There's no need for me to worry about making mistakes because no one is going to laugh at or make fun of me. Also, Crossroads gives me numerous opportunities to perform on stage, which I love doing!
FAVORITE QUOTES: "We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance!" - Japenese Proverb
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." -Martin Luther King, Jr.
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KELLY B. (Sr. Team/3 Year Veteran)
YEARS IN CROSSROADS: 3rd year Dancer
DANCE EXPERIENCE: This is my 7th year of Irish dancing and I have also has studied tap and ballet. I danced for Celtic Rhythm School of Dance prior to moving to Richmond. I have also had the opportunity to take workshop classes with dancers from Riverdance and Busch Garden's "Emerald Beat" and Tara Beek-Kenakin, former Champion dancer.
WHEN I AM NOT DANCING...I am working, have school work, or spending time with friends.
FUTURE PLANS: I plan to go to JMU to major in business.
WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT CROSSROADS: Performing at the many different places and having a great dance support group.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything" - The Script
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MEGAN B. (Sr. Team/3 Year Veteran)
YEARS IN CROSSROADS: 3rd year dancer
DANCE EXPERIENCE: This is my 5th year of Irish dancing and I have also has studied ballet, lyrical, and jazz with Jessica Morgan School of Dance. I have also had the opportunity to take workshop classes with dancers from Riverdance and Busch Garden's "Emerald Beat".
WHEN I AM NOT DANCING...I love to read, draw, and hand out with friends.
FUTURE PLANS: I would like to be a cartoonist or work at Pixar.
WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT CROSSROADS: I love learning new choreography, performing and the friendships I have develop while being a member.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "Around here, however, we don't look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we're curious...and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." - Walt Disney
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KIMBERLY L. (Sr. Team/ 3rd Year Veteran)
YEARS ON CROSSROADS: 3rd year Dancer
DANCE EXPERIENCE: This is my 6th year of Irish dance and I have also has studied ballet for 10 years, tap for 5 years, modern and jazz for 6 years with Jessica Morgan School of Dance. I have had the opportunity to take workshop classes with dancers from Riverdance and Busch Garden's "Emerald Beat".
WHEN I AM NOT DANCING... I am usually doing something else with school including clubs. I play flute and piccolo in the symphonic and marching band at my high school. I am also a part of the Heather Science specialty program at my high school. I also enjoy playing piano, reading, writing, listening to music, being outside, and of course spending time with my wonderful friends.
FUTURE PLANS: After I graduate, I hope to attend VCU and receive my degree in nursing. I would like to become a neonatal nurse and work in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)
WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT CROSSROADS: I like that I have met and become such good friends with many people in Crossroads. I have learned so much more about Irish dancing and different techniques and skills through both the dance teachers and other student sin the troupe. I also love going around and performing at different places. Every bit of hard work that goes into our performances is worth the fun and exciting outcome. It is really interesting to see how much other people really enjoy watching us perform.
FAVORITE QUOTE:
"If you don't like the ending of a story, all you have to do is rewrite it." – Inkheart
"Love is a promise, love is a souvenir, once given, never forgotten, never let it disappear." - John Lennon
"I believe in everything until it's disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it's in your mind. Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the here and now?" - John Lennon
"Jacob is family. You are...well, not exactly the love of my life because I expect to love you for much longer than that. The love of my existence. I don't care who's a werewolf and who's a vampire. If Angela turns out to be a witch, she can join the party, too." - Eclipse
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Jenny L. (Sr. Team/2 Year Veteran)
YEARS ON CROSSROADS: 2nd year dancer
DANCE EXPERIENCE: I first started performing as a figure skater in ice dance and competing on the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club's synchronized skating teams, which I did for 12 years. I also attended ballet classes and ballroom dance classes sponsored by the University of Delaware.
I have been Irish Dancing for a total of 10 years. I competed at feisanna through the Novice level for 5 years with the McHugh School of Irish Dance from Hockessin, Delaware. I attended Sweet Briar College, where I performed various Irish and modern dance pieces for school programs as well as the Dance Department's dance concert. In 2004-2005, I studied abroad at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland; I performed and taught Scottish Country and Highland Dance with the St. Andrews Celtic Society's demonstration team.
I took up Irish dance again following my graduation from Sweet Briar in 2006. After moving to Florida, I began dancing with the Glas Tara School of Irish Dance in St. Augustine, Florida, where I competed in Novice, Prizewinner, and Adult Open and performed with the Glas Tara Dance Company.
WHEN I AM NOT DANCING: I work for Henricus Historical Park as a historical interpreter and for Colonial Williamsburg in their military evening programs. I am a civilian reenactor with the Liberty Rifles and Hardtack Society, which is a 19th century living history group. I am also an avid seamstress and make reproduction 17th, 18th, and 19th century clothing. I collect anything Alice in Wonderland. I also sail, fence, and horseback ride.
FUTURE PLANS: I hope to continue my career in the living history and museum field. Maybe one day I'll sail from island to island in the Caribbean. When I win the lottery, I'm going to get my masters in history and work at Disneyland with Alice and the Mad Hatter.
WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT CROSSROADS: I love putting on the costumes and performing, especially for people who enjoy their Irish heritage or have never even seen Irish dance before.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "So many people live such dull, predictable lives these days that the real adventurers are becoming a thing of the past - but their stories are like channel markers for the stormy waters of the future." - Jimmy Buffett
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Kathleen F. (Sr. Team/ Rookie)
YEARS IN CROSSROAD: 1st year
DANCE EXPERIENCE: I began dancing when I was three (ballet, jazz, tap), and started Irish dancing at 11. I trained under Michael Farrell (TCRG) at the Farrell School in New York, where I attained championship level. During this time, I also took master classes with Colin Dunne, Jean Butler, Glenn Simpson (TCRG, ADCRG), Ryan Sullivan, and Dearbhail Bates (TCRG).
In college, I taught my own choreography and organized annual performances. I am now studying with Joni Muggivan (TCRG) in Richmond, and I am a Teaching Assistant with the Muggivan School. I am also currently competing as a Prelim Champion dancer and have attended Feisanna at both Local and Regional competitions. I have competed at Mid-Atlantic and Southern Region Oireachtas in 8 and 4 hands as well as solos.
WHEN I AM NOT DANCING...I am at work at the Massey Cancer Center, or I am running on the trails along the James River. I have earned my Girl Scout Gold Award for a year long program.
FUTURE PLANS: To travel more, run a marathon, and sit for my TCRG exam.
WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT CROSSROADS: Being able to share my love of Irish dancing with others!
FAVORITE QUOTE: "How can we know the dancer from the dance?" - William Butler Yeats
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Hannah Y. (Sr. Team/ Rookie)
YEARS IN CROSSROADS: 1st year
WHEN I AM NOT DANCING... I'm...playing guitar, hanging out with my friends, finishing up senior year(getting all of those super fun college applications done), watching my favorite TV show(Friends).
FUTURE PLANS: Attend a 4 year college
WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT CROSSROADS: Learning choreography and participating in local parades and festivals.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain
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Kiana G. (JR Team/ Rookie)
YEARS IN CROSSROADS: 1st year
DANCE EXPERIENCE: This is my 5th year of Irish dancing and I have also has studied ballet, tap, modern and jazz with Jessica Morgan School of Dance. During my 5 years I have trained with Danny Tighe, TGRG for 4 years, Currently, I train with Joni Muggivan, TCRG. I have also had the opportunity to take workshop classes with dancers from Riverdance and Busch Garden's "Emerald Beat".
For 3 years I have competed in several Irish dance competitions along the East Coast and continue to do so throughout now. I currently compete at the Adv.Beginner/Novice level and have won several medals.
WHEN I AM NOT DANCING... I enjoy reading, art and spending time with family and friends. I love to participate in Glorious Christmas Nights and school chorus productions. I am also actively involved in the Invisible Children Club to held end childhood slavery in Uganda.
FUTURE PLAN: I have always loved Egypt and its history. My dream is to visit this beautiful land and tour the Valley of the Kings, Pyramids of Giza and study Egyptology.
WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT CROSSROADS: Spending time with friends who love Irish Dance as much as I do and performing!
FAVORITE QUOTE:"You try, you try, you fail, but the true failure is when you stop trying"
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Mackenzie C. (Jr Team/Rookie)
YEARS IN CROSSROADS: 1st year
DANCE EXPERIENCE: This is my 4th year of Irish dancing and also have 1 year in ballet and jazz. During my 4 years I have I trained and competed with Danny Tighe, TCRG for 2 years. Currently, I trained with Joni Muggivan, TCRG. I have also had the opportunity to take workshop classes with dancers from Riverdance and Busch Garden's "Emerald Beat". Along with my classes, I also compete in Feisanna during the year including as an Advance Beginner/Novice dancer.
WHEN I AM NOT DANCING... I love art, participate on swim team during the summer, cook, and text. Also, I love to make stuff out of duct tape, hang out with friends, and babysit.
FUTURE PLANS: Currently, I am undecided.
WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT CROSSROADS: Getting to know the other dancers better and all of the group dances that we do are my favorite.
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Emma J. (JR Team/Rookie)
YEARS IN CROSSROADS: 1st year
DANCE EXPERIENCE: I started out in ballet when I was very little and moved up to tap and jazz later. After that I switched to Irish and have loved it for the past 4 years. I haven't done many competitions other than a school feis as I am more interested in the performing aspect than competing.
WHEN I AM NOT DANCING... I like to read, write short stories, sing and act.
FUTURE PLANS: I want to keep doing my best with Irish dance and maybe someday I'd like to compete or even try for Riverdance or Lord of the Dance. For now I think I'll practice my hardest and try my best.
WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT CROSSROADS: Learning new steps and performing for people.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain" - Anonymous
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Lyndsey H. (Jr. Team/Rookie)
YEARS IN CROSSROADS: 1st year
DANCE EXPERIENCE: I have been dancing since I was 2. I took tap and jazz for 7 years and this is my eight year of ballet. For the past 4 years I have been training in Irish dance. I trained under Danny Tighe, TCRG for 4 years and currently train under Joni Muggivan, TCRG.
I currently compete at the Novice level at Feisanna along the East Coast. I have also had the opportunity to train and attend classes with lead dancers from Riverdance and Busch Garden's "Emerald Beat".
WHEN I AM NOT DANCING... I am mostly writing or reading, playing my flute or listening to music.
FUTURE PLANS: I plan to keep dancing forever. But I would like to be an archaeologist and anthropologist that specialist in Greece. I would also like to be an author.
WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT CROSSROADS: I like that we are with kids my age and that we get to perform with the senior girls. I also like that we get to travel and learn new dances.
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Tess M. (Jr. Team/Rookie)
YEARS IN CROSSROADS: 1st year
DANCE EXPERIENCE: This is my 6th year of Irish dance as well as, my 8th year of Ballet and 1st year of pointe.
WHEN I AM NOT DANCING... I am usually practicing piano, horse back riding, doing community service for Girl Scouts, going to Cross Country or track practice, hanging out with friends, reading, eating, doing homework, or doing craft projects.
FUTURE PLANS: Nothing's set in stone yet, but I would like to be a Lobbyist to Congress, a dancer in Riverdance, or a photographer for National Geographic.
WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT CROSSROADS: Meeting new people, participating in exciting events and learning newer and harder steps and choreography.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain" - Anonymous
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Taylor H. (Jr Team/Rookie)
YEARS IN CROSSROADS: 1st year
DANCE EXPERIENCE: Started dancing 4 years ago in Germany with Tir Na Nog. Competed in mainland Europe Feisanna to include Vienna, Milan, Saltzburg, Amsterdam, and Munich. Currently dance at Novice and Advanced Beginner Level.
WHEN I AM NOT DANCING... Play field hockey, read and write poetry. Spend time with my family.
FUTURE PLANS: Study Archeology in college.
WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT CROSSROADS: Team shows! I love parades, fairs. I love performing and showing everyone how fun Irish Dance can be.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "It's true we don't know what we have until we lost it. But it's also true we do know what we've missing until it arrives."
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