Our newest Dancer of the Week is Sunny Hannum. Coincidentally, Sunny is the Artistic Director and an Instructor of a studio that we highlighted a few weeks ago. (We were unaware of that when we chose her for our Dancer of the Week, but that doesn’t affect our choice.) Her studio, Hosanna Dance located in Pierre, South Dakota, is a Christian-based studio that specializes in storybook and biblical productions. Hosanna does not participate in dance competitions like many studios do but do they do provide worship dances for outdoor and indoor community concerts. When asked to explain who she is in one minute or less, Sunny replied, “I am a worshiper who loves to live and move and have my being in Him.”
Sunny’s love of dance began when as a little girl she would waltz with her father. As a teacher with her own studio, she strives to pass this love of dance on to others on a daily basis. As a Christian, she strives to show, and share, her love of Him to others by the way she lives her life.
The extraordinary highlight of Sunny’s dancing career and her happiest moment in that career was when she danced for Princess Grace in Monte Carlo. This is the type of opportunity that few ever have, or dream of having, and something she can remember and cherish for the rest of her life.
She is not only a dancer, she is also an instructor and artistic director of her own studio. Sunny has had previous experience as a professional dancer and dance has always been her passion. Because she wanted to inspire others to experience the freedom that dance brings and the physical, spiritual, and mental benefits of dance, she decided to start her own studio. She believes that graded classes are the best way to help dancers attain technical proficiency and can only be taught in a studio venue. Sunny’s proudest moments as an instructor are seeing young dancers accomplish the difficulties of pas de deux work and rise to new levels of technical ability while learning solos.
Sunny’s short-term goals are for her studio, Hosanna, to bring their Nutcracker: The Greatest Gift of All back to the stage after a four year hiatus and to do a remake of The Story of Moses: The Deliverer. During that four year hiatus, Hosanna performed Narnia and other Christmas shows along with other shows during the year.
As far as Sunny’s long-term goals, they are more complex. She has always wanted to have a large complex, including a huge theater, where all art forms are taught. Her hopes and goals would take her to that facility with multi studios and better and better performances and dancers. She would also like to teach in China and Central America and spread her love of dance in those countries. Lastly, she hopes to attain the hghest level of Cecchetti certification that a teacher can achieve. (Cecchetti training is a igorous method which pays careful attention to the laws of anatomy. It develops all of the qualities essential to the dancer: balance, poise, strength, elevation, elasticity, “ballon”, etc. It is classic in its purity and clear-cut style.) No doubt that she will attain all of her hopes and wishes.
Sunny says that her experiences with Bailar Dancewear have always been good. The delivery is speedy, the quality is good and the fit is perfect. In other words, worthy of repeat business.
Although this article is about Sunny as the Dancer of the Week, reality is that she is also affiliated with her studio and our readers may want to know more about that studio. If you would like further information about Hosanna Dance or Sunny, check out their website at http://hosannadance.blogspot.comor message them through Hosanna Dance on Facebook. You could also call Sunny Hannum at 605-945-1044 or e-mail her at hosannadancepierre@gmail.com.
Sunny says that her experiences with Bailar Dancewear have always been good. The delivery is speedy, the quality is good and the fit is perfect. In other words, worthy of repeat business.
Please post a comment if you have had any experience with Sunny Hannum.
