DANCE
Turquoise Daughtry
Turquoise Daughtry is a native of Portsmouth, VA. She began studying ballet at the age of two with the Thaddeus Hayes Ballet Theatre in Norfolk, VA. In 1996, she decided to expand her repertoire and began to study jazz, tap, hip-hop, modern and African dance with The Gail Harts Dance Company, which was located in Portsmouth, VA. Mrs. Daughtry attended Churchland High School in Portsmouth, VA where she was involved in numerous activities including the Marching Band, Concert Band, Varsity Cheerleading and the Magnet Dance Program. While in the Marching Band, Mrs. Daughtry was a member of the Color Guard where she served as captain her senior year. Upon completion of high school in 2003, Mrs. Daughtry attended North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, NC. There she was involved with the Blue and Gold Marching Machine as a member of the “Golden Delight” Auxiliary Squad. Golden Delight is an auxiliary squad that encompasses both the art of twirling and dance. Mrs. Daughtry served on the Leadership Team in 2004 as the dance leader and served as captain for the 2005 and 2006 school year. She became a member of Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority, Inc. in 2005 where she served as Miss Tau Beta Sigma as well as President. Mrs. Daughtry served on the Golden Delight Staff for one year upon her graduation in 2007. She became a member of Portsmouth Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. in 2010. Mrs. Daughtry is the current Dance Coordinator of the “Blue Diamonds Dance Squad” of Lakeland High School’s “Marching Quiet Storm” located in Suffolk, VA. She also serves as the Praise Dance Minister for the Adult and Youth Praise Dancers of Tabernacle Church, located in Portsmouth, VA. Mrs. Daughtry is the current Assistant Director/Head Choreographer for the LWADance and Performing Arts Company located in Chesapeake, VA.
Jessica Gauthier
Jessica Gauthier is a native of Beaumont, Texas. Ms. Gauthier discovered her passion for dance at the age of 10 yrs old after enrolling in her first dance class. While she enjoys all genres, Jazz, Modern, and Hip Hop dance styles are her specialty. Ms. Gauthier graduated from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where she was first a member of The Gold-N-Bluez Basketball Dance Team and later a member of the Southern University “Dancing Dolls” of the World-Renowned “Human Jukebox” Marching Band. She was Co-Captain of the 2009-2010 Dancing Doll squad. Ms. Gauthier is currently the Coordinator of the “Royal Elegance” Dance Team at Kings Fork High School located in Suffolk, VA.
Courtney Ford
Courtney Ford is a native of Suffolk, VA. She graduated from Lakeland High School in 2013, was a cheerleader for about three years, and a member and Captain of the “Blue Diamond” Dancers for the Lakeland High School Marching “Quiet Storm. Courtney is a rising sophomore at Virginia State University, majoring in social work and a member of the “Essence of Troy” Dance Line of the Virginia State University Marching “Trojan Explosion” Band. She LOVES dancing which she has been doing since childhood. Even as a little girl she always picked up dances very fast and could commit them to memory in no time. She dances every chance she can get, saying “I can barely keep still”. J Education is important to her, but dancing allows her to learn her limitations and strengths and allows her to cope with difficult situations. Dance is her true “passion..
Hope Strachan
Hope Strachan, native from Syracuse, New York, was born with a gift of expression through dance. At the age of five she began ballet training as her first technical class. A few years later she began training in other areas such as: jazz, modern, Dunham, African, point, tap, hip-hop, and liturgical dance. Throughout her middle and high school years she held many leadership positions such as originator and captain of Liverpool High School Step and Dance Team, Cheerleader Captain on CNY All Star Cheerleading Team, and member of NY Onondaga Dance Company for many years and various instructor positions. After graduating from Liverpool High School, Hope began attending Norfolk State university where she was a member of the “Hot Ice” Dance Team of the Norfolk State University Marching “Spartan Legion” for her five year tenure and was captain/head section leader her last two consecutive years on the team. As a recent graduate she now works full time at a private health care facility and is currently a dance instructor at Dance Dimension Dance and Music Academy under the direction of Ms. Eboni Young. She also currently serves as Team Leader/Choreographer of FOCUS Dance Ministry at Gethsemane Community Fellowship Baptist Church. After many performances and competitions her fire and desire to perform never dies down..