Letters to the Family
a letter from Jessica Millete (Co-Founder and Regional Executive Director for KCVA) to the KODACHROME Family
On
behalf of the KODACHROME Virginia Staff, I would like to thank everyone
who came to our Season IV Finale: Workshop VII hosted by the University
of Virginia. We ended the season with a great reminder of why
KODACHROME exists. Wendy Richardson has only been dancing for a year, so
she was nervous to be teaching for the first time. Because of the
support and encouragement she received from her dance crew and the
excited KODACHROME dance community, she was able to gain confidence in
sharing her passion. David Thomas was our guest choreographer from out
of town who emphasized that dance is a feeling and that you should dance
for yourself. By being a great teacher, he showed that if a piece is
broken down clear enough, first-time dancers will still be able to kill
the piece. He made himself approachable before, throughout, and after
the workshop to everyone. He was an example that even the most talented
choreographers and teachers can remain humble.
As a co-founder, seeing the growth over the past four years still amazes me. To the supporters: Thank you for coming to each workshop (sometimes every weekend!), whether it’s KODACHROME VA, KODACHROME NC, weekly crew workshops, special event workshops etc. KODACHROME exists because you are our inspiration: you train, practice, travel great distances, and grow closer to your dance family with each dance event. We want to see you succeed not only as a dancer, but in life. To the KODACHROME staff (Virginia and North Carolina): Thank you for your commitment, creativity, and teamwork. There is so much detail and thought put into everything behind the scenes. You all are vital to every successful workshop; KODACHROME would not be what it is now without your skill and dedication.
I am excited for the future of KODACHROME. Our staff will continue to work hard to bring you a quality and unique experience and we hope to see you continue to Express Yourself and Expose Dance. See y’all at the Summer Workshops and KCVA Season V/KCNC Season III!
With love,
Jessica Millete
KODACHROME Co-Founder, Regional Executive Director, KODACHROME VA
a letter from David Curameng (Regional Executive Director for KCNC) to the KODACHROME Family
A simple
thank you isn’t enough. From the teachers, fellow colleagues, our
network of supporters, and our fellow peers, your contributions really have
defined what KODACHROME is about. If you
have attended just one KODACHROME workshop, you already know it is more than
just taking dance classes. A KODACHROME
workshop is about your experience, pushing past your physical limitations, and
simply enjoying the LIFE that you have and the people around you. I sincerely hope you have enjoyed this season
as much as the KODACHROME staff and representatives have. The KODACHROME team and I wanted to bring so
many things to the community. We wanted
to challenge you in learning new dance styles.
You succeeded. We wanted you to
learn more than just choreography. You
gained experience and insight from the teachers. We wanted to make sure you had the
opportunity to express yourself. You
provided your story by dancing and sharing your time with us. Together, we were able to learn so much more
about each other. This season was
dedicated to building family.
To the
KODACHROME North Carolina community, I am so proud to see how far we’ve come and how much further we continue to go! It’s hard to believe that the
years of the intense dance rivalries and regional divisions, especially from my
college era (2004-2009), are of distant memory now. Since that time, I am grateful that my peers
continue to take a chance and support each KODACHROME event. I’ve witnessed improvement in
dance vocabulary, heightened desire to work more collaboratively, and sustained
hungriness (and willingness) to travel all across the state (and even out of
state) to take the next dance class!
More importantly, I’ve witnessed the breakdown of
rivalries, development of personal character, and peers finding responsibility
to lead a positive impact in the community.
Where people used to be shy or tense to approach someone they didn’t know, I see these very same dancers openly reach out to
new faces with open arms at every KODACHROME workshop. I am proud to say that the KODACHROME NC
community has become a family of its own.
To the KODACHROME Virginia community, thank you for your support to KCNC. From the KCVA staff helping out my team in our early years to fellow KCVA workshop attendees more than willing to travel a few extra miles down south, your support exemplifies the KODACHROME mission. The road trips, the friendships made, and the stories of our KODACHROME weekends throughout the year have brought our two communities closer together. Many of us travel so frequently now between both states that the only thing that separates us is the normal weekday. I will never forget those that have influenced my KODACHROME beginnings, and I always enjoy watching other KODACHROME peers leave a lasting impact on new members of our KODACHROME family. Thank you again to everyone - the teachers, the staff, the representatives, and my fellow peers who have made this season unforgettable. The KODACHROME community continues to succeed because of the passion of dance we all share and the desire to always expose each other to positive energy. There is only one way to look from here and that’s up!
All the best,
David Curameng
Regional Executive Director, KODACHROME NC
