SARA ANNE REMSEN Sara Anne Remsen, a senior at LCHS, is one of 57 dancers across the United States selected to join the apprentice company of the Tremaine Dance Convention organization in Los Angeles, California.

Established in 1981, the mission of Tremaine Dance Conventions is to further dance education in a positive and motivational environment through master classes with top professional choreographers from Los Angeles, New York, and other centers of dance.

Each year, the organization sponsors dance conventions in 25 cities throughout the United States. In addition to master classes, the conventions also feature competitions and a faculty dance exhibition, held the last day of the event.

As a member of the Tremaine Apprentice Company, Sara Anne is required to participate in at least five of these conventions. Her duties will include assisting the choreographers in teaching the master classes, helping with the competitions, and performing in the faculty show.

She will also have the privilege of attending workshops and choreography sessions with members of the Tremaine National Performance Company and may even be asked to serve as an understudy.

Working side by side with worldrenowned teachers and choreographers such as Joe Tremaine and Julie Adler, the founders of the dance school; Doug Caldwell; and Marty Drew will prove to be invaluable to Sara Anne in her quest to become a professional dancer.

She will attend her first convention as a member of the Tremaine Apprentice Company in late October at the Westin Galleria & Westin Oaks in Houston, Texas.

Sara Anne auditioned for the company during a week-long visit to California last month. The auditions took place at the Debbie Reynolds Studio in North Hollywood.

While in California, the LCHS honor student also visited UCLA and Loyola Marymount University. Her goals are to major in math and further her dance education.

Sara Anne was bitten by the dancing bug at the age of eight when she began taking dance classes in Lincolnton from Dianne Clements, owner of August West Dance Studio. At the age of nine, she successfully auditioned for one of Clements' performing companies, and since that time, has commuted to Augusta to rehearse at least three times a week. Presently, she is a member of August West's Senior Performing Company, under the direction of dance teachers Merry Beckum and Megan Luquire.

As a result of her hard work and dedication, Sara Anne was likewise one of 16 rising juniors and seniors selected to participate in the Governor's Honors Program in dance last year. Held at Valdosta State University, the summer program is designed to provide intellectually gifted and artistically talented high school students with challenging and enriching educational opportunities not usually available during the regular school year.

According to Dianne Clements, the teenager's long-time dance instructor, "Sara Anne is the only student from Augusta West to achieve Governor's Honors status and land an apprenticeship with Joe Tremaine, who is considered a legend in the dance world."

She noted that Tremaine's organization has produced numerous first rate choreographers and dancers as well as judges and contestants for the popular television show "So You Think You Can Dance."

"To attend Governor's Honors and earn a Tremaine apprenticeship says worlds about Sara Anne's ability and where she can go with it," Clements stated. "We've only seen the tip of the iceberg - the sky's the limit for her."

Looking back, Clements said, "I recognized the talent Sara Anne had as a child and encouraged her to continue studying dance, which she did. In fact, she grew up in our organization as a performing company member - it's been a joy to watch her mature as a dancer."

In conclusion, she stated, "Dance teaches discipline, and Sara Anne has the discipline, the dedication, the talent, and the work ethic to succeed as a dancer. She is willing to put forth the effort to realize her dreams."

Augusta West has produced Rockettes, Young Americans, Broadway entertainers, and dancers, who are employed by Disney to perform on cruise ships and at parks in the United States and Japan.

As proud as the staff at Augusta West is of Sara Anne, there are no two people any prouder than her parents, Gail and Marcy Remsen.

"This is an honor beyond measure," said Mrs. Remsen. "It is the first big step for Sara Anne in achieving her dream of making it as a professional in the dance world. We are so proud of her and happy that all of her hard work is paying off."