Leslie
Dahl was on the JDHS Drill Team from 1974-1977.
The 1976 team was the first to travel to Nationals at Miss Dance Drill USA where
they placed 5th. Leslie was Head Coach from 1986-2000, and again from 2002-2005.
Retirement hasn't suited her, so she is back as Head Coach again for the 2008-2009
year. During her tenure as coach the team won various National Championships
in California (Miss Dance Drill USA) in 1993, 1995, and 1997, and 3 International
Championships (Miss Dance Drill International) in Japan in 1995. The team placed
3rd in Prop and 5th in Pom at Nationals in Florida (Universal Dance Associations
National Dance Team Championships) in 1999, and 3rd in Jazz and 4th in Pom in
2000. The team appeared on ESPN by the airing of the 1999 and 2000 UDA competitions.
The team's success resulted in numerous State of Alaska Legistlative Citations,
City and Borough of Juneau Commendations, and even a "JDHS Dance Team Day"
in 1995. Leslie has said that the biggest reward of coaching, however, has been
the opportunity to meet literally hundreds of committed, hard working young
women over the years, and then watching them grow into remarkable adults. Leslie
is married to Craig Dahl (a JDHS Dance Team devotee), and has a son, a stepson,
a stepdaughter and a grandaughter. Leslie believes in the words of Vince Lombardi
"The strength of the group is the strength of the leaders", and as
such is very pleased to be working with an outstanding group of women that have
committed to be this year's Assistant Coaches.
Christa Baxter started
dancing with Janice D. Holst when she was 3yrs old. She studied ballet, tap
and jazz/hip hop for 12yrs before joining the JDHS Dance/Drill Team. Christa
was a 4 year Dance Team member and 1st Lieutenant her junior and senior year.
She was a member of the 1995 International Championship team that competed in
Nagoya, Japan, and competed at National competitions in Long Beach, California
in 1997 & 1998 and Orlando, Florida in 1999. She was also titled 1st Runner
Up at the 1998 Miss Dance/Drill Alaska Pageant. This will be Christa's sixth
year coaching the Dance Team. She was Assistant Coach 2002-2005 and Head Coach
2005-2007. Christa now enjoys being a stay at home mother with two young children.
"It takes each of us to make a difference for all of us".
Jamie
Matheson starts her third year as an Assistant Coach. Her dance
background began as a young child in Juneau studying ballet, tap, and jazz.
Jamie then became a four year JDHS Dance Team member where she held leadership
positions, competed regionally as a soloist, and nationally with the team in
both California and Florida. Jamie was a member of the National Championship
team of 1997, and an officer of the first JDHS team to travel to Florida in
1999. In Florida the team won National honors, and made their first appearance
on ESPN. Jamie works full time for the State of Alaska and plans to make Juneau
her home. She is excited to share her love of dance with the team while also
encouraging each member to find their own passion for the sport and helping
them achieve both their dance and academic goals.
Leeann Cochrane starts
her third year as Assistant Coach for the JDHS Dance Team. Leeann was the JDHS
Dance Team Manager for 3 years during her high school career. She attended National
competition in Long Beach, California in 1997 where the team took home 1st place
trophies in both of the categories that they competed in. She graduated from
JDHS in 1999. Since coaching the team, Leeann has contributed her knowledge
in the administrative functions necessary to run the team, and has also helped
to clean and perfect choreography so that routines are "ready for performance".
Leeann enjoys coaching not only for how rewarding it can be, but she also treasures
the relationships and bonds she forms with the team members. Leeann is looking
forward to contributing her experience in helping to guide this year's team
toward another outstanding season, and is excited to have the opportunity to
coach with her high school coach, Leslie Dahl, as well as many of her high school
teammates.
Mandy Massey was
a member of the JDHS Drill Team from 1991- 1993, competing with her team at
the Miss Dance/Drill National Competition in California in 1993 and winning
JDHS's first National Championship. It was for that winning performance using
folding chairs that the team also received the PRODUCER Award in which the judges
voted on an overall favorite pick. Mandy became Head Coach in 2001-2002, Co-coach
in 2002-2003 and Assistant Coach in 2003-2004. Her tenure as a JDHS Dance Team
coach occurred during a time of rebuilding and proved to be very rewarding.
After taking some time off coaching to spend time with her family, she is proud
to be back as part of the coaching staff once again. Mandy has two young children,
Blake, 6 and Gloria, 3 and hopes that one day they will be inspired by the JDHS
Dance Team's dedication to excellence, hard work, and discipline. Mandy sees
coaching as a way to give back to the team, the program, and the community.
As she herself learned during her years of involvement, it is her belief that
this program is not just about dance, it's about giving your very best and believing
it's worth giving. From the words of Stevie Wonder, "We all have ability.
The difference is how we use it."
Jodi Watts was born and
raised in Juneau, Alaska. She is happily married to Nate Watts and is the proud
mother of three beautiful daughters; Kylee (age 7), Emilee (age 6), and Hannah
(age 2). Jodi is a busy stay at home mom and in her free time she volunteers
in the girls' classes, coaches the Dad's Drill Team, and helps her extended
family as needed. Jodi was a four year-member of the JDHS Drill Team, 1993-1997.
During those years she competed on JDHS's National Championship team in California
and on the JDHS International Championship team in Japan, where the team placed
first in all 3 of the categories in which they competed. Her senior year, Jodi
was a team officer and attended the Thunderbird Dance Camp in Portland, Oregon.
Jodi's interest in dance began at a young age, starting formal dance classes
at the age of 4, including; ballet, tap and jazz. Jodi hopes that through her
new position as an Assistant Coach she can help to foster and instill the love
of dance in others that has meant so much to her.
Jennifer Henderson
started dancing when she was 4 and was inspired by her late grandmother who
always dreamed of being a Prima Ballerina. Jennifer studied dance while living
in Indonesia and by the time Jen moved back to the U.S. at 14 had every intention
of succeeding in Ballet. At Spring Creek HS in Nevada Jennifer became a member
of her High School Dance Team. She and a teammate took the captain positions
and eventually lead the team to a very successful season; with little adult
support they turned the team from girls to dancers. While on her High School
Dance Team, Jen was also working as a principal dance instructor at a local
studio where she taught ballet and men's hip hop. Jen's family moved to Alaska
and Jen is happy to be here contributing her skills to the JDHS Dance Team.
She is also working full time in preparation for her return to University where
she is pursuing degree in Organizational Development.
