One of Makenzie's dreams came true when she became the proud owner and director of Limelight Dance Factory in January of 2013.

 

Makenzie was introduced to the world of dance at age 3.  She was instantly hooked when she walked through the doors of Cody Center for the Perfoming Arts in Cody, WY.  During her dance tenure at CCPA she had many opportunities including participation in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, class assistant, Student Teacher and attending Dance Excellence otherwise known as DE. Dance Excellence is a week long international dance festival in Los Angeles, CA which includes master classes with professionals from all over the world, participating in  the adjudication process and performing on stage in Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure.  

 

Makenzie auditioned for The Young Americans through DE and was one of the 300 individuals selected from all over the world.  In 2006 she moved to Corona, CA with her various dance shoes in hand. There, she studied performance art with an emphasis on teaching by taking classes in dance, voice, choir, lighing and sound, costume, phychology, teaching methods, child devolopment and stagecraft through the Pacific College of Performing Arts. For a year and a half Makenzie was a Resident Cast member working with at-risk students in Southern California. Following Resident Cast was a three month Outreach tour in 2008 where she traveled throughout Holland & Germany. The Young Americans hosted 3 day workshops in 23 different European towns for thousands of children. The finale of the 3 day workshop culminated with the Young Americans and students performing a 2 hour variety show for the community. 

 

Makenzie then returned to Cody, WY as a dance instructor with Cody Center for the Performing Arts where her love of dance was hatched 20 years earlier.  Soon after she was invited to choreograph for "Raging Red" the new performance group at Dixie State University in St. George, Utah. While at Dixie State she was fortunate enough to further her education and increase dance experience as a member of the Ballroom Team and the University's Dance Company.

 

Utilizing her experience and expertise, she choreographed performances and workshops for Raging Red which traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah, the Navajo Reservation and to Las Vegas, Nevada. The grand finale with Raging Red was a Cultural Exchange program in China with performances at various High Schools, Universities and dancing on The Great Wall!

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Makenzie continues to add experiences for this Limelight Family with more performance opportunities, workshops, instructors, a larger curriculum and much more.  She continues to learn and grow all in hopes of setting her students up for sucess in their future.