Pearland’s Derr finalist for Rockets Power Dancers
By Ted Dunnam
YourHoustonNews.com
July 14, 2011.
For Elyse Derr, however, she practically emerged from the crib with happy feet.
The 2008 Pearland High School graduate hopes that 18 years of dancing will prove beneficial when she competes in the final round of Houston Rockets Power Dancer auditions at 7 p.m., July 20 at the House of Blues in Houston.
In her first audition ever for any professional dance team, Derr has already survived three rounds to advance to the finals. She is among 28 dancers who will vie for 18 available spots on the Rockets Power Dancers’ roster.
“I’m a nursing major, and I wanted to apply for a nursing school in Houston,” Derr said. “I just thought that being in Houston…this would be another good opportunity for me.”
Derr is a former Texas State University Strutter, and has honed her dancing skills at Dancescape by Joyce for 15 years.
“Even though this was my very first time, I was fairly confident,” Derr said. “My mother’s had me dancing since I was 2 years old.
“My first goal was to just make it through the first round, and after I did that, I was hoping to make it through the second round. I gained more confidence each time I danced.”
Derr said “probably 120 girls” auditioned in the opening round. Then the number was pared to 100 for the second round. After the second round was completed, the number of competitors diminished to 52.
When the third round was complete, only 28 dancers remained.
“Each round was different,” Derr said. “We just did a basic sideline routine in the first round. Round two featured hip-hop, and round three was a jazz routine.
“This final round will be a production. We’ll learn a number this Friday and perform it, and we’ll also have to do each routine that we’ve learned through the entire process.”
If Derr is selected to the squad, it will certainly be a special day for her.
“When they have the final round at the House of Blues, it’s the same day as my 21st birthday,” she said. “I’ll probably be pretty nervous, but I’ll also be pretty confident.”
Derr knows she’ll get a morale boost from her mother.
“She was a dance team director,” Derr said, “and she started me off dancing as soon as I was born.”
A former Pearland Prancer, dancing is second nature to Derr. However, she’s taking nothing for granted when she performs in front of numerous friends and family members next Wednesday.
“If I make the team, I’ll be really happy,” she said. “If I don’t make it, I’ll be a little disappointed but not extremely heart-broken. I’m really happy to have made it this far.”
