Roswell City Dance Gears Up for Annual Performance

In late January, the physical activities build at Roswell Area Park is a flurry of sequins, tap shoes, rhinestones, fishnets and leotards as Roswell City Dance (RCD) prepares to show the local community what dance companies throughout the country already know: they're extremely talented.

Not many city-sponsored dance companies are as competitive or as good as RCD, according to the company's public relations volunteer, Lisa Harrison. Currently in its 16th year, RCD was named "A Top Ten Studio in the USA" by Star Systems during 2011. Chalk it up to one more area in which excels.

The audition-only dance company holds auditions for new male and female dancers each spring. RCD currently has 79 principal company members and 6 junior company members in ages ranging from 7-18. The motto "dancers by nature, Roswell City Dance by choice" is a belief applied daily by both the dancers and their parents, considering the amount of time, practice and volunteer work required to be a part of the company.

Guest teachers and choreographers - some of whom are recognizable from their time spent on the popular TV show "So You Think You Can Dance" - regularly work with dancers, who attend a number of metro area schools. Many RCD dancers go on to win dance scholarships at universities and conservatories, as well as have professional dance careers, according to Harrison.

Just as it does every year, the annual Winter Concert kicks off the company's competition season, leading up to the Hall of Fame Dance Challenge Nationals that RCD will be attending in June.

Some fun facts about the company's winter concert:

• Over 40 dances are featured in the annual showcase
• Over 400 costumes are created
• 85,000 Swarovski Crystal rhinestones are hand glued to costumes by a parent volunteer team
• 40 tubes of glue are used to glue the stones

Showtimes for the winter concert are Feb. 3, 7:30 p.m., Feb. 4, 2 p.m. and Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m. at the 950 Forrest Street.

Tickets available through the box office by phone, 770-641-1260. "Like" Roswell City Dance on Facebook for updates, or go to the RCD website.