New teacher Heather Hoy’s dance ambitions add a great dynamic to our school as she transitions from a school graduate to a dance teacher. Our school has not always been lucky enough to have our vibrant, spirited dance team. The dance team was founded in 2019 when Hoy wanted to share her love for dance and the amazing community with her fellow classmates. She wanted to bring spirit to her community and share her passion for dance with classmates.

“Dance has shaped who I am. It gave me confidence, discipline, and a creative outlet when I needed it most.” Hoy said

When going through college, Hoy used the abilities and lessons dance taught her to carry her to where she is today, a dance teacher and coach inspiring young people to follow in her same path. Her time in college and dancing with a wide range of studios and teams shaped her vision of what dance could be for the school.

Hoy danced at Entropy Dance Crew in college. Entropy Dance Crew is the dance team at Appalachian State. They focus on creating a welcoming environment for both personal and collective growth.

“I was able to learn from so many incredible artists and gain experience in putting together a set while collaborating with other universities,” Hoy said

During this time, her sister was a dance teacher for the team here; she has now stepped down, allowing her to take the spotlight. Hoy’s sister left a solid foundation for her to build off of.

She explains the life-changing experience of becoming a teacher here. As a student, she grew through experience and hard work, and now can take a step back and watch it from the other side. As a teacher, she notices her students growing braver, taking more risks, and pushing themselves to grow into their unique style.

” I’ve grown from being the student with a dream into the coach who helps make those dreams happen for others. It’s a shift in perspective, but it makes me appreciate the process even more.” Hoy said

Don’t be afraid to step into a new world. Go ahead and take that chance; you never know what you could create.