BRAINERD — Marny Rohr attended the 2013 Just For Kix Annual Convention with over 147 Just For Kix Youth Program Directors from Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Texas, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Colorado and South Dakota. The 2013 Directors Convention was held at Forestview Middle School and The Legacy at Cragun’s Resort on July 28-30.

The Convention offered multiple educational and programming classes to assist in furthering the Director’s dance curriculum and sessions on resources for program development.  One of the Director favorites is learning choreography for the upcoming performance season. Classes offered included:  Hip Hop, Jazz, Kick, Lyrical, Pom, Tabata and Novelty.

Julie Davidge, the Just For Kix Youth Programs Manager said the overall experience allows for the Directors to come to Brainerd to collaborate and engage with the Directors from across the country. “Bringing all of our Directors together is a highlight of our year. We take care of business for the upcoming season and discuss ways to continue to enrich the teaching and performances for our youth dance teams,” Davidge said.

For 29 years, Just For Kix has held a Directors Convention. Just For Kix orchestrates youth dance programs in ten states at nearly 200 locations engaging over 20,000 youth dancers. Just For Kix is offered in the following local areas: Austin, Adams, Blooming Prairie, Grand Meadow, St. Ansgar, Osage, Albert Lea, Owatonna, Stewartville, Hayfield, Dodge Center, Kasson, Byron and Rochester.

The Austin Program has been directed by Marny Rohr for the past 19 years. She was also a previous coach for the award winning Austin Packer Varsity Dance Team for 7 years. Marny began with Just For Kix as a 7-year-old dancer in the original JFK program in Brainerd, Minn. She was instructed and personally trained by JFK founder and dance team icon Cindy Clough.

“Marny is simply one of a kind. She is giving, kind, and caring,” Clough said. “She is a great teacher, able to control large groups of children, making it appear effortless. As a role model for kids, I feel she is real. With Marny you see what you get. Her values are on target and someone parents want their child to be mentored by. In addition to being a great teacher/coach she is a role model for all of our directors. She is looked up to by all often sought out for advice.”

Rohr said her goal is to prepare her dancers for competing at the high school level.

“My focus is to teach them the rewards of setting goals and attaining them through hard work, while having fun at the same time,” she said. “We pride ourselves in teaching dance skills, teamwork, self-confidence and the art of performing in a fun and energetic atmosphere!”

The Austin Just For Kix Dance program offers kick, jazz, Girls Hip Hop, Boys Hip Hop dance classes for youth ages 2 years through adult. Students can enroll at anytime. To learn more, visit:  JustForKix.com/danceclasses/austin_mn or contact Marny at: 433-1966 or austin_mn@justforkix.com.