Students from Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD’s Creekview and Newman Smith High Schools recently showcased their talent at the National High School Dance Festival in Pittsburgh, PA.

The Gallery in Motion Dance Company (GIMDC) from Newman Smith and the Moving Ground Dance Company (MGDC) from Creekview spent five days at the festival, immersing themselves in dance master classes, performances and concerts.

“Having the opportunity to participate and perform in the largest dance festival in the United States was an outstanding experience,” said GIMDC director, Stephanie Laranjeira. “Our dancers were not only able to take master classes from world renowned artists and experience extraordinary performances, but also audition and receive scholarships to the country’s most prestigious colleges and universities. It was an unforgettable experience.”

The festival, a national platform for high school dance programs, drew submissions from across the United States, Canada and Australia. This year, more than 270 pieces were submitted for evaluation, with only 90 selected for the festival. CFBISD had three pieces chosen for performance:

• The Void: Stephanie Laranjeira - GIMDC,  Newman Smith HS
• Imperfectionist: Enmanuel Lovera (Student) - GIMDC, Newman Smith HS
• Anxious: Ronelle Eddings - MGDC, Creekview HS

“Moving Ground Dance Company is honored to have been selected to perform at the festival for the past 20 years,” said MGDC director Ronelle Eddings. "For a school that is not a performing arts high school, being selected to perform is a testament to the outstanding work being done in the dance classrooms across CFBISD.”

About the National High School Dance Festival

The 2025 National High School Dance Festival welcomed more than 1,500 9th-12th grade students from around the United States and abroad. Students participated in five days of 310 dance classes, 13 information sessions, 9 workshops, 5 teacher sessions, auditions for university scholarships, a college recruitment fair and 9 adjudicated concerts.

“The National High School Dance Festival provides an opportunity for our dancers in CFBISD to see the dance world in a wider scope,” Eddings said. “It expands their world to include new choreography ideas, greater technical possibilities and the avenue to show your thoughts and feelings in choreography on a grand scale.”