Taylor Griffith’s dance choreography won a National Award of Excellence in Reflections. (PHOTO / OLIVE PHOTOGRAPHY)

Taylor Griffith (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Taylor Griffith earned a National Award of Excellence for dance choreography in the PTA-sponsored Reflections fine arts contest.

Only four Alabama students received national awards. Griffith, 12, is a seventh-grader at Discovery Middle School and studies dance at The Dance Company in Madison.

Taylor’s work, “I Look to You,” won in Reflections’ middle school division for grades 6-8. Her 2014 choreography won first place in citywide competition and first place in state, which she also won in 2013 for grades 3-5.

About 300,000 students enter Reflections. Each Award of Excellence winner receives $200, a silver-plated Reflections medallion, certificate and letter from the National PTA President and recognition in the Reflections online gallery.

After considering several selections, Taylor decided on Whitney Houston’s “I Look to You” for her contemporary dance. To portray the 2014 theme “Dream, Believe, Inspire,” Griffith’s dance told the story of a child battling and conquering cancer. Griffith’s movements symbolized the child’s battles and ‘celebration dance’ in recovery.

Griffith has studied for nine years at The Dance Company and represented the studio for four years as a competition company dancer. She enjoys ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, hip-hop and contemporary.

“As a dancer advances at The Dance Company, the choreographers share their vision for their dance,” Taylor’s parents Jim and Mary Griffith said. “They discuss the meaning of the motions, how they reflect the words of the music and the facial and body emotions that must be shown for the dance to be effective.”

During June, Taylor auditioned and was selected to participate in a two-week dance intensive at the Nashville Ballet.

At Rainbow Elementary School, Griffith was an “A” Honor Roll student. At Trinity Baptist Church, she assists with children’s church. She enjoys time at the pool with friends and visiting with her older sisters.

Taylor’s older sisters are Elizabeth, a 2013 Auburn University graduate, and Caitlin, an Auburn sophomore.

Griffith will continue to study dance and hopes to own a dance studio one day.