GINA SAWYER

Family Dance History

Dance/drill team is a part of my family history.  My mother Norma Kay Deane McGilvra marched in the Drum and Bugle Corps in Lufkin, Texas in 1947-1948. This performance group set the groundwork for what would develop into the Panther Pride Drill Team. My older sister Lisa and I (lieutenants), as well as my younger sister Pam (line member), danced with the team in the eighties. I continued to perform in dance/drill team as a Dance Captain for the Tyler Jr. College Apache Belles, and then became the director for several high school teams in the North Dallas area. My daughter Kelley Jo is now a Pacesetter Rookie at J.J. Pearce High School in Richardson.  The legacy continues!

Dance Education

Masters in Dance, 2009
Texas Woman’s University, Denton, Texas
                                                                                                                                   
Master of Liberal Arts, 2000  
Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas

Bachelors of Science Dance, 1990    
Texas Woman’s University, Denton, Texas
                       
Texas State Board of Educator Certification, 1990
Dance, English, Theatre Arts, Language Arts, Reading, and Physical Education, Austin, Texas

Associates in Arts, 1987  
Tyler Junior College, Tyler, Texas

Performance Experience

I have performed, choreographed, and/or directed for some of the following dance/drill team organizations, studios, and filmmakers.

Ambit Energy, Apache Belles Dance/Drill Team in collaboration with The Cattle Baron’s Ball, NFL’s Dallas Cowboys and Houston Oilers, the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, The Cotton Bowl, The State Fair of Texas and True Stories directed by David Byrnie, Cedar Valley Music Theater, Dance/Drill Team Directors of America, Denton Civic Ballet, Events in Motion, Forever Entertainment, DMX, Inc., Garland Civic Theatre, Garland Summer Musicals, HTE Spirit Group, La Luna Films, Kaufman Civic Theatre, The Line Inside Productions, Madman Pictures, NCA Danz in collaboration with the Neiman Marcus/Adolphus Christmas Parade, the Peach Bowl Classic, and the Jr. Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Oakridge Playhouse, Repertory Company Theatre, Revelator Productions, Richland College, Rowlett Theater, SamiLu Productions, Southwest Regional Ballet Festival, Star Dance Productions Studio, Texas Dance Educators Association, Miss Teen Lufkin and Miss Teen Texas and Universal Studios

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Recognition

Professional Organizations

I am a member of the following dance education organizations.  Dance Camera West, National Dance Educator’s Association, and the Texas Dance Educators Association