“I don’t think a prima ballerina or even a Broadway dancer will come out of the program,” said youth dance director Sara Griffin. “This is a very small town. I am not going for that moment. But to see a little girl all dressed up and dancing. Seeing the pride and the joy in her eyes and in her family’s eyes, that is the moment. That makes everything worthwhile.”
For three years now Sara Draper Griffin has produced moments like that with her young dancers at various events in Wendover, Utah and West Wendover. Sponsored and funded by the Recreation District the dance program currently has about 30 dancers twinkling their toes, including a handful of boys.
“When I came back to Wendover after my husband finished his military service, I noticed there was no dance program in town.” Griffin said. “I was teaching aqua robics at the pool and I mentioned it to the WREC District. And they asked if I would do it. I still can’t believe it has been three years.”
Griffin was the perfect choice to head the program, Wendover born and raised Griffin began her own dance lessons at age two and continued threw elementary junior high and high school where she captained the drill team and started a dance team. Then she went to college as a dance major.
“I think the only time I actually stopped was during my last year in college when a tumor was discovered on my foot and it had to be removed,” she added.
That break turned out to last long than convalescence. Griffin married Joshua Griffin an American soldier she met on a trip to Australia. Joshua played football in the Down Under Bowl and Sara was of course a member of the Cheer/Dance team.
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After returning from his tour of duty Joshua and Sara begin a family with first a girl, then a boy and this year another girl is expected.
“I really like living in Wendover,” she added. “This is a wonderful little town with wonderful people. It is so nice to be able to give something back. It is really weird now some of the little girls who began with program three years ago are moving up to the next level. But I suppose it will be weirder when I watch the graduate high school.”
Parents interested in the dance program should contact the West Wendover Recreation District.
PHOTOS OF THE DANCERS
I must say I enjoy when you print positive stories for a change.
No h in Sara.
Couldn’t be prouder of sara. She is a very kind hearted and hard working person. She has danced for as long as I can remember and im happy to see her share her talents with the world. Go Sara!