Nicolette Abbott
Dancer of the Year:  2016 - 2017

Dancer of the Year presentation, July, 2017:

        "This year’s dancer of the year, like previous winners, is very deserving.  Her hard work, dedication, and loyalty is truly unmatched, only to be surpassed by her humble demeanor.  This student takes classes in all styles and levels, only missing a class if she is absolutely too sick to attend.  Outside of school, this dancer works hard in her studies and also participates in her school dance team.  You can often find this dancer getting up early to support her younger dance team members on a competition weekend, or making funny videos on her phone.  Although this dancer would say she may not be as strong or as flexible as others she dances with, this award is about so much more than just technique.  This young lady has a heart of gold, and all of us up here would say that she is very happy just to be herself.  She is no drama, loves to just be a kid, and has an incredible perception of others’ feelings and troubles, and will do her best, in her own way, to show you love and support.  In addition, her family has been so incredibly supportive throughout the years, in ways all of you can’t even imagine.
 
I think that all of us teachers can agree that we love teaching because it is so much more than telling kids to point their feet or jump higher.  It is about building relationships as we get to watch these young ladies and gentlemen grow, learn, and mature.  For me, this dancer is so much more than just dance, which is exactly what the Gotta Dance Dancer of the Year award is all about.  It is about heart, passion, and loyalty.  This dancer has been with the GDA family since she was 18 months, or as her mother will tell you, a little before that so she could get a jump start.  She has tried solos in just about every style you could imagine, including acrobatics.  Watching this student grow up has been perhaps the greatest blessing in my life, and I count myself lucky to be her dance teacher.  She knows what she wants and she is true to herself, and no one is going to change her mind about that.  In this day and age, this type of teenager is hard to find.  I have personally watched her grow into a dance the younger students hope to one day become, which makes her worthy of having her picture up on the wall for the year to come.
 
This year’s dancer of the year has come a long way.  I once dragged her across the floor in my tap class, as she refused to go by herself.  Mind you, she was only 4 and already in a tap 1 class.  She soon realized Ms. Jen wasn’t playing those games, and showed everyone real quickly just how incredible her musicality, memorization of choreography, and tap sounds were.  She would later be asked to sub for injured dancers close to 10 different times, including at our most recent nationals in Las Vegas.  She understands music like a professional, and even though she refused to smile as a little 5-year-old in her first solo, she would soon start to understand what was necessary as a performer. 
 
Her ballet teacher has described her as a dedicated dancer, showing commitment and discipline.  Her other teachers love her for her effort in class, dependability, and one-of-a-kind heart and sense of humor.  As we learn and grow and go through life, if you can’t work hard but also find times to laugh at yourself and experience joy in what you do, you’re not living.  This dancer does just that, and in so many ways, even I look up to her.  She loves what SHE loves, which are funny videos, 80’s music, and Christmas. 
 
Over the years, she has been very successful with all the teams she has been on, making it to the showcase for grand champion every year at nationals since 2009.  She has won many titles, placed in the top 10 numerous times for her tap solos, won scholarships and opportunities to assist at dance conventions, and just recently killed her solo and placed very well at KAR nationals in Vegas.
 
Perhaps what I like best about this dancer is that she doesn’t feel that she stands out.  She is loyal to a fault, and you would be hard pressed to find someone who’s allegiance to GDA runs deeper.  She doesn’t feel that she is worthy of others looking up to her.  She is sitting out there right now thinking I must not be talking about her.  But what she doesn’t know is that all of these qualities are actually what makes her exceptional, and someone that we are excited to have up on our wall for others to look up to.  It is with great pride that I present the 2017 Dancer of the Year Award the student who has been at Gotta Dance Academy the longest, Nicolette Abbott.


​About Nicolette

Pictures of Nicolette throughout her years at Gotta Dance Academy...