Apalachin Girls Wow Them on the Dance Floor
By Jill Darling
Rachel
and Amber Moore of Tioga Terrace have taken dance lessons for most of their
lives and it shows. They, along with the rest of the competitive troupe
at the Danek School of Performing Arts, will be performing upbeat patriotic
songs in spectacular costumes at Magic Kingdom in Disney World on the 4th
of July. On July 6, they will compete in a week-long National Dance Competition
for the American Dance Awards (ADA) in Orlando.
Rachel, 15, and Amber, 13, have danced jazz, tap, ballet, and
lyrical for 10 and 9 years respectively. Rachel says, "Each kind of dance
expresses different things. In lyrical dancing, you can be very touching
and peaceful. In jazz, it's all about energy and popular music. I like
tap because you can dance to cool music and make neat sounds with your
feet. And in ballet it's all about technique, yet still you can perform
a quiet, gentle kind of a dance."
Amber says, "Dance is not just an activity in my life, but part
of my life. I also ballroom dance, swing, cha-cha, mambo and waltz. I'm
not a fancy dancer in those, but everyday I'm getting better and better;
also I'd love to become a fancy dancer like my mom." The girls' mother,
Cindy Moore, is a ballroom dance student and performer.
Both girls have been awarded Gold and Ultimate Gold Medals in
ADA Competitions over the years. Rachel says, "Competing in dance is a
good experience. You get to know the things you need to correct or work
on from a pro. Dancing is a great workout and you can stay healthy."
Amber is a 7th grader at Ross Corners Christian Academy and is
a very accomplished violinist. She recently participated in NYSSMA (New
York State School Music Association), and received the highest award, an
Outstanding. She also plays piano, sings and enjoys art. Rachel is a freshman
at Ross Corners and plays piano, sings, and enjoys tennis and rollerblading.
She also participated in NYSSMA and received an Outstanding in piano.
Earlier this year Amber auditioned for and made a cameo appearance
in the Broadway musical Footloose, which was performed in Binghamton. Amber
also won the Title Award for ages 13-15 at the ADA Regional Competition
in Binghamton on May 12 and 13. Rachel placed third in the same category.
At the end of the competition ADA has a "Dance-Off" in which top winners
are awarded prize money. Amber and her dance partner, Michael McBride,
came in fourth place.
The girls have used their talents to glorify God and express
their faith. They have danced ballets to worshipful songs in their church,
Faith Christian Fellowship, in Apalachin. Rachel danced to Take Me to the
Cross in her first year of solo competition, and took a silver medal at
Nationals two years ago. Rachel also plays the piano in church, and Amber
the violin.
In a letter to the girls' parents, Larry and Cindy Moore, another
dance mother expressed, "Rachel is a joy to watch. And Amber really shines!
Your girls' goodness and inner beauty comes out each time they perform.
I'm sure you thank God every night for the wonderful gifts He has given
the girls, and I just wanted you to know that to me, your girls really
dance with joy."
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