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The Marriott Phoenix Resort Tempe at The Buttes was the perfect location for everyone to come together for a weekend of learning, connecting, rejuvenating and celebrating. We met our attendee goal and were excited to see so many new faces.  Our volunteers worked hard to create a beginning-to-end meaningful experience, and we are thankful for their dedication and perseverance.


In a nutshell:

* We offered 34 classes.
* We had over 30 high-end speakers, including Toni Basil, our Keynote.
* We had a packed Partner Expo Hall, led by our Premier Partners - Varsity Spirit and Weissman, full of businesses who introduced coaches to the latest dance team fashions, training, travel, fundraising and so much more!
* We gave away countless prizes, including free conference tuition, Partner swag, free memberships, and free drink tickets.
* We partied to a silent disco.
* We reconnected with old friends and met new ones.
* We were moved by heartfelt speeches made by the Hall of Fame Inductees at the super fun Fiesta! Gala.

We announced our dates for next year:

May 16-18, 2024
Phoenix, AZ

Slideshow
2023 Conference Photos

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Toni Basil is a multi-award-winning choreographer, dancer, director, producer, recording artist and street dance historian.

 

Best known for her hit single and dancing video Hey Mickey, Toni received a Gold Album for 1981’s Word of Mouth and double platinum records for her International smash single Mickey in the UK, Canada Mexico and Australia. She received a Grammy nomination for her Word of Mouth long-form video album, which she produced, choreographed and directed. Mickey was Billboard magazine’s #1 song for the month of December 1982 and her video was installed into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as one of the groundbreaking video and singles of the 1980s. The Mickey music video has been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art and in 1992, Toni earned herself a place as an American Video Artist in the coveted Museum of Modern Art’s calendar. She starred, co-directed and choreographed two self-titled BBC television specials, which were re-aired in record time due to unprecedented audience response and are credited as launching Mickey as a hit single in the U.K. charts and ultimately, worldwide.


Behind the scenes she has choreography and directorial credits on over 50 videos TV shows , commercials (2 award-winning Gap commercials), three Sesame Street videos and has choreographed and/or co-directed concerts and shows for Tina Turner, David Bowie, Bette Midler, David Lee Roth, Mick Jagger, Linda Ronstadt Lilly Tomlin, Enrique Iglesias as well as many others.

 

Toni is one of the founding members of the Street dance group The Lockers considered “the group that changed the face of dance”  establishing street dance as a true American art form. The group broke boundaries on television toured and opened for Frank Sinatra Carnegie Hall.

 

In 2008 Toni received Hip Hop International’s highest award Living Legend of Hip Hop. Former recipients include MC Hammer, DJ Kool Herc , Grandmaster Caz, Don “Campbellock” Campbell and Boogaloo Sam.


More About Toni

Awards

One of the goals of the NDCA is to honor our own, and we did that with our 2023 Hall of Fame, NDCA member awards, and service pins.  


NDCA HALL OF FAME

 

At the Gala, we inducted three iconic dance team leaders into the NDCA Hall of Fame - Sheryl Olecheck, Julie Stevens, and Carrie Smith

We were moved to have members of the Olecheck family speak on behalf of Sheryl who was inducted posthumously.  It was very special to have them there.  Julie and Carrie both spoke about their dance team journeys and had the room in stitches and tears as they shared triumphs and disappointments. 



'OF THE YEAR' AWARDS

 

 

 

Congratulations to all of our nominees and winners!

 

Now Accepting Nominations

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Thank you to those who shared their expertise, volunteered their time, and personally attended the conference. The NDCA is growing rapidly and together, we are making our dance profession stronger and more united.


Mark your calendars to attend the 2024 NDCA Conference May 16-18 in Phoenix, Arizona!