Step It Up

Participants

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  Traci Young-Byron

  Traci Young-Byron

  

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  Mrs. Traci Young-Byron was born and raised in the heart of Liberty City in Miami, Florida. She began dancing at the tender age of three with the Inner City Children’s Touring Dance Company under the direction of Ms. Florene Lithcutt Nichols. Mrs. Young-Byron began receiving her technical training as a student at South Miami Middle School. After two years of intense training, she decided to further her growth at Miami Northwestern Senior High School’s Performing and Visual Arts Center under the direction of Mr. Roderick Davis.

   

  In the fall of 1997, Mrs. Young-Byron entered into The Florida State University to pursue a degree in Dance. As a Dance Major at FSU, she was trained in the areas of Classical Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop, Caribbean and choreography. Mrs. Young-Byron co-chartered Mahogany Dance Theatre at Florida A&M University and co-founded Phlava Dance Troop at The Florida State University. In 1998, she was selected to study at the Alvin Ailey Summer Intensive in New York City. In the spring of 2000, Mrs. Young-Byron was inducted into the prestigious Kappa Epsilon Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated in which she spearheaded a number of step shows as Step Master. Traci Young-Byron received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance from The Florida State University in 2001.

   

  Her creativity, contributions and teachings are linked with the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center, Mustangs In Motion Dance Company, Phlava Dance Troop, Mahogany Dance Theatre and The Addiction Dance Company/Experience. In 2002, Mrs. Young-Byron became a member of the “four-time most popular dance team in the NBA” – the Miami Heat Dancers. She danced with the Miami Heat for nine years in which she held the positions of team captain and assistant choreographer. Mrs. Young-Byron, a member and co-choreographer of Fly Khicks, was selected to represent Miami on season three of America’s Best Dance Crew in 2008. She has been featured in a plethora of music videos, awards shows, concerts; and has been blessed to perform in various countries around the world. Mrs. Young-Byron is a veteran Jazz dance instructor with the infamous Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s AileyCamp Miami staff. Currently, Mrs. Young-Byron is the founder and artistic director of the Young Contemporary Dance Theatre, a diverse and community based dance company that caters to over 150 inner city children and adults. Through YCDT and PAVAC, Mrs. Young-Byron provides performance opportunities, academic development and support, health seminars, master classes, out-of-state conferences/trips, professional photo sessions, makeup tutorials and life coaching.

   

  In addition to running her YCDT, Mrs. Young-Byron is a full-time school teacher. She began her employment with Miami Dade County Public Schools in 2001 at Madison Middle School. During that time, Mrs. Young-Byron was named “Rookie Teacher of the Year” at Madison Middle, “Rookie Teacher of the Year” for Region III and runner-up “Rookie Teacher of the Year” for the entire Miami Dade County Public Schools. After three years at Madison Middle School, she began teaching at Miami Northwestern Senior High School in 2006. In 2008, Mrs. Young-Byron became the Artistic Director of the reputable PAVAC Dance program and the elite Golden Girls dance team. Mrs. Young-Byron was also named “Teacher of the Year” at Miami Northwestern Senior High School in 2010. Mrs. Young-Byron has personally provided over $25,000 in awards, scholarships, conventions and master classes to a plethora of deserving students throughout her teaching career.

   

  Other accolades include the MNW Alumni Hall of Fame recipient, Business & Professional Women of South Florida Arts & Entertainment Award recipient, AT&T 2015-2016 Miami-Dade African American Calendar Honoree, among others.