The New Palestine Diamond Sensations are hitting the ground running, with a record breaking number of new performers. This year, the group has grown to an astounding 56 participants, of which, approximately 40% are new. This is the largest number of new recruits that director Micheal Dean has ever instructed.
Junior Libby Hunter, a dance captain for the Diamond Sensations is excited for such a large amount of new people.
“This is the largest Diamond’s has ever been and it is gonna be a monumental year. We now have 56 girls, and our choir is 40% composed of new people this year,” Hunter said. “Because of the new people, we had to get new risers, and I’m really excited to see the creative freedom (Michael) Dean and the people behind it have in store.”
Dean, the director of the Diamond Sensations, is also thrilled about the new students on his roster.
“It’s exciting, because with new people comes new experiences, new talents, new energy and just a broadening of the program as a whole. What’s been really fun to watch over the last several years has been the way that the choral program has really spread throughout the school,” Dean said. “The school and all of the other activities have now integrated more into this classroom. They’re not just choir kids, they’re scholars, they’re athletes, they’re leaders. We have kids who are in student leadership, student council, Voice, all of the academic stuff, multiple sports.”
The success of the students is causing a spread of the choir and making many new people join the choir.
The goals for the Diamond Sensations remain similar to previous years. Dean wants students to grow not only as performers, but also as people. Leadership, responsibility, confidence and personal growth are important parts of the program. Students are taught how to read music, sing, dance and perform while also learning skills that help them later in life.
Another major goal is to keep everyone going, especially when it comes to the new performers.
“I think we’ve got a really good group this year, one that’s going to take care of their peers and make sure that everybody, even on their bad day, knows that they’re number one, they’re valued and that they are an important part of what we’re doing, and we’re here for them,” Dean said. “And once you get that, people no longer feel like they’re working for you, they’re working with you.”
