CDM Alum Success Story!
A Maggie Valley native is dancing his way to a national stage after honing his skills in the hills of western North Carolina.
David Ferguson got an early start on his dance career, taking his first lessons not long after he learned to walk.
David grew up dancing at Angie’s Dance Academy in Clyde, NC. He started when he was 3 years old. his grandfather, Robert Lee Ferguson, put him in dance as a way to expend energy, because he had way too much of it as a 3-year-old. He was named Master Dance or North Carolina in 2003, Mister Dance of North Carolina in 2008 and 1st runner up to Mister Dance of America in 2009.
“I was in Taiwan for a while, continuing to learn dance there, and then I went to Montreal, Canada. When I was in Montreal, I auditioned for a company based in New York – Helen Simoneau Danse,” Ferguson said. “I didn’t hear back for several weeks, but then one day she called and offered me an apprenticeship. I never thought I would move to New York, it was the farthest thing from my mind, but in August I packed a bag and moved up there, and I’ve been there ever since.”
In the three years Ferguson has spent in New York, his dance career has taken off – he’s danced on Broadway, and he’s preparing to take part in the first national tour of the current Broadway iteration of “Fiddler on the Roof.” Getting to perform for Broadway shows, he said, is an experience unlike any other for a dancer who’s spent his entire life working on his art.
“Growing up in a small town and having something like Angie’s is amazing. She’s an amazing studio owner and teacher, and her employees are all wonderful,” Ferguson said. “To be able to have that here, and to have that ability to grow in dance here, it was amazing. We did a lot of competitions, and she exposed me to a lot of different dance styles through that. We traveled a lot, and I met a lot of choreographers through them.”
Student Success Stories!
Mary Katherine Conaway, former student of Joyce Triche, is a rising Senior at Salem College. She has a double major of Dance Studies and Business Administration, and is a member of the Salem College Dance Company. This summer she was employed as a member of the dance team for Carolina Cobras Arena Football Team that plays at the Greensboro Coliseum.
Mary Upchurch, also former student of Joyce Triche, has been performing for the past two years with the Theatre Alliance in Winston Salem. She has been employed as their costume designer since May. This summer she performed in Will Roger’s Follies, along with doing the costuming for the show. Mary will be starting her Freshman year at Savannah College of Art and Design in September where she will be studying costume design and musical theatre.
If you have a student success story to share, or your studio enjoyed a special performance experience, email rachsnipes@gmail.com!
In 1996, our last two categories were added in the Solo Title Scholarship Competition: Teen Miss and Teen Mister Dance. This year, Walter Crowley, student of Michelle Rogers, Alyson Wright, and Amy Santoro, is our Teen Mister Dance of North Carolina. Read More
In 1996, our last two categories were added in the Solo Title Scholarship Competition: Teen Miss and Teen Mister Dance. This year, Hailey Wrona, student of Michelle Rogers, Alyson Wright, and Amy Santoro, is our Teen Miss Dance of North Carolina. Read More
In 1994, the first title for Junior Mister Dance of North Carolina was awarded. This year, we congratulate Ethan Guthrie, student of Lianda Lynk, newest winner of the title. Read More
Three categories were added to the Solo Title Scholarship Competition in 1991: Junior Miss, Petite Miss, and Master Dance of North Carolina. Over the years, we have had many talented title holders in this category. Read More
In the same year that Junior Miss and Master Dance were introduced, Petite Miss Dance became a part of the Solo Title Scholarship Competition. This year, the crown went to Annabelle Jones, student of Michelle Rogers, Alyson Wright, and Amy Santoro. Let’s look back at the title holders from the beginning. Read More
In 1991, the Junior Miss Dance category of the Solo Title Scholarship Competition was added. This year, we congratulate Island Shuler, student of Michele Lee and Gregor Lee Pickral, and celebrate the previous title holders. Read More
We want to take a moment to congratulate our newest Mister Dance of North Carolina, Sam Faulkner, student of Michelle Rogers, Alyson Wright, and Amy Santoro. In the spirit of reminiscing, we would also like to highlight the many title holders we have had the privilege of teaching. Read More
As we celebrate the success of our current Miss Dance of North Carolina, Savannah Simon, student of Jackie Olson and Ann Freeman, we want to take the time to look back over the many years of the Solo Title Scholarship Competition, beginning with our very first competition: Miss Dance of North Carolina. Read More