The SKIP Entertainment Dance Company (SKIP) is a Guam Success Story! SKIP originally started in 1984 as a project of Children's Productions, Incorporated in 1982, known as the Sunshine Kids In Production (SKIP). Prior to the birth of SKIP, Children's Productions first staged a number of childrens musicals including "Swinging on a Star, "Candy Man," and "High Hopes." Soon the focus turned to dance, giving thousands of Guam's youth an opportunity to excel. Instructors and choreographers continue to come to Guam from Los Angeles and New York City to work with Guam's best.
In 1985, SKIP Dancers completed their first U. S. Mainland tour, and since that time has traveled to dance competitions and performances in the U.S. Mainland, Europe and Australia every year. In 1991, members of SKIP performed on International Star Search, aired in over 63 countries. During the summer of 1993, four SKIP dancers were selected to attend the first "Winners" Showcase, organized by Tony Selznick, in Los Angeles which was aired in California. Later that year, SKIP was once again selected to appear on Ed McMahon's Star Search. That same year, SKIP dancers were featured on the cover of PERFORMER'S EDGE, a national dance publication.
From 1991 through 1998, SKIP won the National Dance Championships held in various cities around the U.S. One of the most exciting competitions was during the 1996 Jazz Dance World Congress held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. where SKIP won the International Choreographic Leo's Gold Award with a piece choreographed by Ray Leeper. Due to this honor, SKIP was selected as featured performers at the 1997 Jazz Dance World Congress in Weisbaden, Germany. Once again in 2001, Guam's SKIP dancers won the National Dance Championship in San Antonio, Texas and were featured on the ShowStopper televised special. International recognition was brought back to Guam, when SKIP won the Overall Dance Championship at the International Grand Prix Festival in Cesena, Italy, in June 2002. The competition included dancers representing 23 countries from five continents. In 2004, SKIP was named the first runners-up at the ShowCase National Dance Finals on the Gold Coast in Australia. The SKIP dancers went on to win the Jr and Sr Overall Championships at the ShowTime National Finals in Niagra Falls, Canada and the StarPower National Jr Championship Title in Ocean City, Md.
In addition to winning numerous national and world championship titles, many SKIP Dancers have gone on to prestigious professional dance careers. SKIP dancer, Michael Lomeka, was the first and only Guam trained dancer to graduate from the prestigious Juilliard School of Dance in New York City. He toured with Mikhail Baryshnikov and the White Oak Dance Project for three years. SKIP was honored to present Mikhail Baryshnikov and the White Oak Dance Project, including Guam's own Michael Lomeka, to sold out audiences, on Guam in March 2001. Michael returned to Guam in January 2002 to teach the young talented dancers on Guam.
In August 2003, SKIP dancer Tony Francisco was selected to tour and perform with Britney Spears. Following this tour, he has continually toured with Paulina Rubio.
Other SKIP members who continued in the dance world, after leaving Guam, include Tammy Torres-Hunter, who was formerly the dance captain for the Disney World Lion Kingdom Show and thereafter taught dance at Castle High School in Hawaii. SKIP dancers Teena Benavente, Danica Benavente, Justina Caguioa, Kristan McCauley and Tanisha Franquez auditioned for and were chosen to become members of the elite Rainbow Dancers for the University of Hawaii. Tracy Sablan, Janet Hetzel, Nicole King and Claressa Johnston were selected as members of the University of San Francisco dance team.
In June 2005, SKIP was selected to star in the new nationally televised series in the Philippines, Club TV that airs every Saturday night on ABC-5. In addition to dancing on every show, SKIP taped segments call "SKIP WORKS", a fun instructional part of the show teaching the latest dance steps. The group will be continually traveling to Manila for future engagements. In addition, to the shows, the SKIP dancers toured across the country promting SKECHERS Gear.
The primary focus and goal of the SKIP Entertainment Company is to provide a positive influence on the youth of Guam. Through dance, students have an opportunity to develop life long values. To maintain this focus, SKIP provides an atmosphere where students can have fun while learning. Each student is encouraged to excel. As new challenges are met, students develop confidence to meet the next challenge. Most important is the development of a deep sense of self-direction so that participants can have the courage to reach for the stars. SKIP provides a balance of incredible opportunities for the dancers on Guam, including dance competitions, festivals, staged performances, television shows and promotional tours around the world.
The SKIP Entertainment Company offers classes for beginners all the way through the advanced. SKIP provides a family atmosphere where all are encouraged to work to their fullest potential. All students are given the opportunity to work up to company membership. Students in the program perform during the concerts, with company members who in addition to the annual tours, stage nearly 100 performances each year on the island of Guam..
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The SKIP Entertainment Company is unique in that it provides professional training to students who are thousands of miles away from the US Mainland. When the organization started in 1982, there was only one dance teacher on the island of Guam and he was only on island for a short time. Needing choreographers, directors Lee and Teri Knapp, contracted choreographers from the Philippines to come to Guam and teach. In 1992, SKIP started the national trend of bringing top choreographers from LA and NYC to Guam to choreograph dances. The first choreographer from LA, to come to Guam, was Ray Leeper. He came to Guam many years and helped establish the quality of the group. With his choreography, SKIP won the 1996 Jazz Dance World Congress International Choreography Award at the Kennedy Center in which 79 International groups competed. According to StarPower's Gary Pate, SKIP helped change the world of competitive dance when other studios around the country realized they could bring in top choreographers to their studios, following the example of the success of the SKIP Entertainment Company. SKIP has brought an array of choreographers and workshop teachers to Guam including Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo, Glenn Packard, Dee Caspary, Tina D'Amato, Andre Fuentes, Al Bee, AC Ciulla, and Tovaris Wilson. Seeing the results of working with this incredible array of teachers, the directors of SKIP set out on a new adventure in 2003 with the creation of SOURCEDANCE "www.sourcedance.com." SOURCEDANCE organizes dance conventions and Hip Hop All Stars Workshops in Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii and Guam to change the world of dance in the Asia Pacific Region. Plans are underway to bring SOURCEDANCE to Japan and the Philippines.
SKIP is a very family oriented organization. Everyone in the group helps take care of each other and is best friends. All of the families have similar values and goals, so parents are assured their sons and daughters are among the best peers possible. When one person in the group has a family event, the entire touring company and their families are invited! Many of the dancers who tour with SKIP had never left the 40 x 8 mile island of Guam, prior to their first SKIP tour. SKIP dancers have been to four continents, many countries and many cities in the US Mainland.
Having raised three sons who were dancers and college football players, and now successful at what they do, directors Lee and Teri Knapp saw the value of providing a place where students could work hard to achieve their dreams. Keeping their sons in structured activities such as dance and many sports always kept them out of trouble and focused on living their dreams.
Although the SKIP dancers are from a very tiny island, their dreams are just as big as any other dancer in the world!