The Madeline Graves Performing Arts Center (MGPAC) has been educating dance students since 1966. Madeline Graves herself was recently awarded her 50-year membership pin to the Dance Masters of America (DMA) international organization. It’s no surprise to see long-term students from this studio performing at top-level competitions successfully and moving on to pursue great things as they advance in life. The Roberson sisters, Kendyll and Katlyn, are two such prominent students.
These young ladies have achieved nothing but success from their years competing in dance through MGPAC. Both love dance and are very passionate about it. The girls started with Graves around ages six and seven and have been with her for over 14 years. This was their 12th year competing at the DMA National Convention. Every year their duet places in the top three or top five. The convention also offers classes all week long by master choreographers and teachers from around the country. The classes are opened up for all ages. The DMA’s main focus is on dance education, not just competition.
The Roberson sisters have been dancing together for years now and said part of the fun is to get to do it together as sisters. These two talented ladies are more than just a duet and are very accomplished individually, as well. Kendyll, who has been competing since she was seven, has won almost every level in Regional. This year she won Miss Dance of Chapter 35, a personal goal shee set for herself.
“[Dance] teaches so much discipline and responsibility,” Kendyll said. “You learn so much more outside of just dancing.”
Her older sister, Kaitlyn, was awarded first in her Division and second overall out of over 200 students. Kaitlyn has also successfully passed her DMA membership application and is now in her first year as an official delegate, no longer just a student.
“It’s a huge test. Huge,” said the sisters.
Kaitlyn’s love for dance has led her to pursue a career in the field, as well. She is currently a senior dance major at WT College and will be graduating in 2024 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
“I’m excited because I’m just now getting to the point where I’m not on the student side. I’m on the teacher side now,” Kaitlynn said.
She will begin teaching at MGPAC after she graduates. This bright young woman already has a promising career in dance ahead of her and could very well be the next Madeline Graves in 50 years.
Kendyll’s passion for the arts didn’t quite lead her down the same path, as she will be majoring in interior design and architecture when she attends college this fall.
“I definitely think [dance] helped spark that creativity,” Kendyll said. “I just really want to travel and design everywhere. Dance has brought that love of travel out in me too.”
Kendyll is looking forward to traveling, maybe to Switzerland, designing and building. She hopes that if she comes back to dance she wants to do more teaching and less competing.
Both girls said they will miss traveling, as their favorite part of competing was seeing new and different places. Over the years, they have been all over the country, seeing places like Florida, California, Boston, Nashville, and New Orleans. They said they will also miss the new experiences of learning new routines, creating art, and choreographing.
“[Dance] gives an outlet to be yourself, but also express a different side,” the sisters said. “It helps your self-confidence a lot, too, because you have to be really confident in yourself to be able to get out on stage and dance.”
The sisters wish to extend their sincerest thanks to their mother, Susan Roberson, for investing so much in them, both financially and in her time, especially hauling them all over the country to compete. They also wish to thank Shauna and Madeline Graves for what they’ve done for them all these years.
