By: Breyana Laury
Danielle Simmons graduated from Hilbert College the spring of 2015 with her Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice. Beginning January of 2017 Danielle will be attending Law School in Michigan. She has been dancing since she was 2 years old and established Hilbert College’s first dance team in September of 2012.
Q: What style of dance have you been doing?
A: I have a lot of experience in different styles of dance. I first started off doing tap but I have also done ballet, modern, jazz, hip hop, Caribbean, waltz, and African dance.
Q: If you could describe Never Miss in 3 words what would they be? Why?
A: Family Orientated: Well over 30 members always had family qualities
Dedicated: Proof shown in multiple YouTube videos. Once we hit the stage we forget about everything else and kill it.
Adaptive: Open to many different events and entertainment. Willing and open to learn new dances such as modern and ballet.
Q: What inspired you to create Never Miss?
A: I would have never thought about making my own dance team once I came to Hilbert College. Leaving Performing Arts I would have never thought that I would dance again actually I just did one performance open mic by myself and then with another girl Davonna Howard and after that alumni from performing arts named Jasmine McCarter we kind of just got together and made a dance and performed it and after a lady named Ashley Goodwin a former student life coordinator of Hilbert College came to us and she inspired me to start my own dance team.
Q: How did you come up with the name Never Miss?
A: After Ashley came to us I was sitting in my room for hour’s days probably even a week or two thinking about different names. I went on google trying to look at different stuff to inspire me to make a name. It was one night my cousin sent me a picture on Facebook and it said never miss a chance to dance and it just stuck with me and it is like never miss a chance to dance and after I’m like I am going to name it Never Miss after the quote.
Q: How did you inspire your dance team members?
A: Our role to coming to Hilbert College is not to dance but it is to be successful within our classes and to get your degree but how I inspire in different ways is to go to class and get your degree but also to let your emotions out while dancing. Inspire that this is a family it is much more than just dancing.
Q: Who are some of the teachers that have inspired you?
A: When I started dancing at 2 years old Ms. Barbara’s School of Dance that is where I first started. After that I went to Ms. K Dance Camp and then I went to Performing Arts where I had teachers Ms. Jones, Ms. Parker, and Ms. Rebecca.
Q: Why do you teach?
A: It has always been a passion for me to dance like I said I never would have thought I would be teaching but it is just a passion and that is just something that I love doing.
Q: What was your favorite part of being a dance captain?
A: I have a few things. Although it was hard managing over 30 members it was it also helped me become a better leader. That is what made me more of a captain do not get me wrong I struggled. It was hard but I kept going because of the girls on the team.
Q: What are your strengths as a dance captain?
A: Communication. Attention to detail and being very organized with all paperwork.
Q: What are some of your weaknesses as a dance captain?
A: Letting the little things get to me rather it is arguments on the team or conflict. Trying to do everything myself. I have a hard time asking for help.
Q: What has been your most memorable moment as a dance captain?
A: Our first performance. I would have never thought the crowd would have went as crazy as they did for that performance. The leadership skills I have gained from it and over 30 people that I still keep in contact with that is most memorable and I still remember almost all the dances.