Ready to be Wild?
What can I call a dance convention that is going to be educational, exciting, off the charts and wild?" If you are searching for these qualities in your next convention season then WILD Dance Convention is for you. The newest convention, owned by Star Power's Gary Pate, hits the circuit this fall. Its kickoff begins in Minneapolis followed by eight other cities around the country. This jungle themed dance intensive prides itself on its fresh faculty, educational workshops, scholarship opportunities and, hold your breath, no competition! "I would like to see a nice innovative change in the format of conventions from the past," says Gary Pate. "We're bringing something new, fresh, exciting and wild."
When it comes to faculty, WILD will surely not disappoint those searching for something new this season. "I wanted to get a faculty that hadn't been overused on the convention circuit," says Pate. "Some new, fresh talent with a few staples." One of those "fresh faces" includes Marty Kudelka, whose work with Justin Timberlake, among other celebrities like Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson, will leave no doubt that his freestyle moves are pure talent. Also, Adrienne Canterna, while no stranger to the competitive world, brings youthful exuberance to the most important and basic element in a dancer's training: ballet and technique. Others include Sky Hoffman, working with Carrie Locklyn, as a dynamic hip-hop duo, who are already legends in their field. And fierce favorites like Ray Leeper, Chris Judd and Pam Bolling are sure to continue inspiring and giving what dancers have craved and admired for many years.
Classes also include live music such as drummers. And an innovative class teaches students choreography to a WILD rap, performed by a professional rapper. While the dancers are performing their freshly learned routine they are video taped by three different cameras. Come Sunday's finale, the production crew has edited the video for all to see--your very own music video.
Ever thought you would arrive at a dance convention and see lab coats instead of leotards? While maintaining the traditional Junior, Teen, Senior ballrooms for convention classes, WILD also offers an option for studio owners, teachers and parents called the Classroom, hosting presentations by makeup specialists, nutrition specialists, studio managers and more. These people are known as the "Doctors of Dance". On the business side, for example, studio management classes will offer studio owners tips on how to build enrollment, how to keep your kids, how competition can help or hurt your studio, and advertising and promotion techniques within your community. Pate also hopes to expand the nutritional lecture to include, not only teachers and parents, but students as well. But don't expect your typical
lecture, kids; WILD promises you an interactive and entertaining session that is, most importantly, educational. "We are going to talk about how to feed a dancer, how to make a dancer healthier and get energy when they have to
perform," explains Pate. "We are going to touch on topics that people don't like to talk about, anorexia, eating disorders that have erupted in our community. We need to be aware of the signs of these, not to ignore it or think it is strange, but to have the knowledge...It's never
too late."
And when it comes to competition, perhaps one of the more "wild" aspects of WILD is that Saturday night offer you a Showcase sans trophies. That's right, no competition. "What I want to do with Wild is give the studios a chance to bring some groups and just go out there and perform for the entertainment value," says Pate. "Just go out there. There is no trophy on the line, there is no first place, there is no victory cup, none of it. All we want to do is have a performance of high caliber entertain the audience."
Studios can bring two groups 12 and under and two 13 and over to perform at the Showcase. Along with studio performances will be special guest performances by professional groups from LA, New York, Atlanta and more. While there are no literal scores, judges are in place to record comments and assign special awards. Special awards include best technique, best concept, best line work, best choreography, best of show and others. The Best of Show award from the Junior and Senior Showcase perform again at the finale on Sunday. While Pate is clearly no stranger of the competition world, he says, "If you want competition go to Star Power. It is time to get back to performing for performance quality alone. Not for a trophy."
WILD cannot lure you with a juicy gold trophy, but it can entice with its scholarship opportunities. Based on dancers' performance in classes, scholarships will be awarded to Star Power, Dance Explosion, Power Pak and Next Star. But perhaps the most sought after award is a contract with BLOC! Talent Agency. An agency representing solely dancers and choreographers, BLOC! scouts are at every city and will select one dancer who will earn the chance to be represented by BLOC!. Meaning, every time a movie comes to LA, New York or Atlanta you have your chance to be in it. This is a pioneering endeavor; WILD is the first convention with which BLOC! has officially aligned itself with. Do not miss you chance to earn incredible scholarships, learn from fresh faculty, educate yourself on healthy habits and perform for the sake of entertainment. WILD, while fierce in its opportunity, simply cuts conventions back to the basics.