By Marvel Gentry Harmon
Twenty-five years ago in 1999 two young ladies, Kelli Odoms and Joenita Ross, saw a need in the community and founded the Highsteppers Drill Team. Led by God to help guide young women through the difficulties that plague youth, they use the art of dance to instill life skills as young children journey into adulthood and provide empowerment through the arts.
On July 12, Kelli Harmon-Dobson and Joenita Ross Alexander celebrated their 25th Highsteppers Anniversary. Over the decades, they have touched over a thousand girls, who are upstanding young women in school, church, home and the community. They also excel academically with a studio average 3.6 GPA. Coaches are 90% Alumni with a vast amount of Dance and Highsteppers experience. The curriculum only supports family friendly, age-appropriate dance choreography, music, and attire, and the studio has earned 20 National Titles in High Kick, Pom Dance, Hip Hop, Jazz, and Musical Production.
Harmon-Dobson explains, “Highsteppers is a ministry. I like to call it a Movement and the people who joined, we’re on a journey. Young ladies need something to grasp onto, to belong to, that will be an extension of their homes.”
She said she is most proud of the impact it has had on the girls and community. “The girls are service-driven. It’s a domino effect: what was poured into them, they pour into others.”
The Highsteppers are enrolling dancer: Pre-School- Grade 12 for Fall 2024: Tiny Dancers: grades ages 3-5, Mini Dancers: grades 1st through 4th grade, Youth Dancers: grades 5th through 7th grades, Senior Dancers: grades 7th/8th through 12th grades.
Harmon-Dobson encourages people to bring their girls to Highsteppers because, “It’s a holistic approach — mind, body and soul — and uses dance to let girls know that the sky is the limit. Not only is Highsteppers a great dance program with decades of national, state, and international dance championship earnings, but we are most importantly a dance family, organized recreation with a transformational learning experience. Our dancers practice responsibility, they develop communication and leadership skills, and we encourage exploration and creativity.”
The Highsteppers Dance Studio is a nonprofit positive youth competitive dance program that was founded in July of 1999. We are celebrating 25 years of youth empowerment via the arts by unveiling and inculcating positive character traits through positive self-awareness, education, academic excellence, and community service. The studio is at 7811 Affinity Dr., Mt. Healthy, 45231.
The Highsteppers Dance Studio | Instagram
The Highsteppers Dance Studio | TikTok
