Courtesy of Farrah Farley – second place team at Worlds Dance Competition
By Heather Clower
The Parsons Advocate
We all know hard work pays off in the end, but for the youth enrolled in Dance by Farrah, take that to a whole new level. For nearly every week for ten months, around three hundred youth from both Tucker and Randolph Counties, ages three to nineteen, enlist in classes taught by Farrah Farley, including but not limited to tap, ballet, hip hop, and gymnastics.
Farley started her dance career when she was just six years old. She started by taking lessons and competing as a child. She then assisted her former dance instructor at her studio, and danced on her college dance team. For the last fifteen years, she has been instructing boys and girls the art of dance and gymnastics and has been very successful while doing so. “I always loved to dance and couldn’t see my life without it”, Farley said.
Dance by Farrah had three teams compete at the World Dance Competition. Those teams, all made up of youth from both counties, competed in an 11 and under lyrical group, a 12 and older lyrical group, and a 12 and over hip hop group. The teams had to have one of the top three scoring routines at a regional competition to win a golden ticket invitation to attend the World event. One team won their ticket in Charleston, WV and the other two tickets were awarded at a competition in Woodbridge, VA.
The qualified teams picked up some extra practices over the summer in preparation for the World competition endeavor. “This year my former dance teacher, Angie Moore, actually came back to help with the competition teams”, exclaimed Farley. The World Dance Championship was held in Secaucus, New Jersey. Caitlyn Eye, sophomore at TCHS, is no stranger to competition dance or the Worlds. Eye has been a student with Farrah since 2009 as well as assisting with her younger classes. Out of her ten years training, she has been to the Worlds three times. She has been on the second place team all three of those years. When Eye was asked what her favorite part of being on the dance team, she said it was, “The ability of being able to participate in a sport I love along with the forever friendships made”. When asked about her experience competing on a stage of that magnitude, Eye stated her favorite part was, “The opportunity of being invited to compete in New Jersey and traveling into New York City from such a small location. Along with that, the memories made and laughter shared”.
At the conclusion of the competition, the 11 and under lyrical team placed twenty third, the 12 and older lyrical team placed eighth, and the 12 and over hip hop team placed second for the third consecutive year. Farley remarked, “Our goal is to get that first place trophy at the World Dance Championship. Hopefully 2019 will be our year”
