Sterling Stars Director

✉ cathomps@garlandisd.net

Courtney Thompson is the current Director of the SIX TIME GRAND CHAMPION Sterling Stars. Before that, she directed the Starlettes JV Drill team. She is a proud alumnus of Naaman Forest,  graduating in 1998 while serving as the Captain for the award-winning Stars. She went on to be a member of the UNT Dancers at North Texas and Greek Week Choreographer for the Chi-Omegas. Ms. Thompson currently teaches all dance classes at Naaman, assists with the Starlettes Drill Team and does the choreography for the School Musicals. She is a two-time recipient of  Forest Experience Award as well as Teacher of the Month.  Go Rangers!

The Naaman Forest Drill Team program is one of the most highly respected groups on campus! We work hard every day to promote school spirit, improve our campus, and be model Rangers. We are known as the PRIDE OF THE FOREST for a reason!

The Sterling Stars are not just about high kicks and sequins, we participate in almost all other organizations here at Naaman, including Theatre, Choir, StuCo, NF Ambassadors, GRCTC, Band and many more! We encourage everyone to pick another activity besides the Drill Team to participate in.

Through the years, the Sterling Stars have traveled all over the United States to perform and compete such as New Orleans, Hawaii, Florida and New York! We have won numerous Grand Champion Awards, Best in Class Awards, Sweepstakes and Choreography recognition. In fact, the Ms. High Kick 2021 was a Sterling Star!

To become a member of the award winning team you must audition. Auditions are held in April, for the next school year. You will be taught a jazz and a kick routine. Splits are encouraged but not mandatory. We encourage anyone to try out, you don't need previous dance experience! To be a Sterling Star is not only a chance to make memories and have fun…..but the opportunity to make lifelong friendships.

The Starlettes Junior Varsity Drill Team is a great way to learn the basics of drill team and meet new friends. Not only can this team help you prepare to move on the award winning Sterling Stars, it gives an opportunity to improve your dancing skills. The Starlettes perform at JV Football games, JV basketball games, compete in the Spring and perform in the Sterling Stars Spring Show! In 2022, the Starlettes brought home a Grand Champion title, the first in school history! We encourage everyone to come and be a part of the winning tradition!

Dance Fundamentals is a yearlong course for fine arts credit. Students participate actively in the learning of fundamental dance skills. Various disciplines of dance are explored including jazz, ballet/lyrical, and modern/contemporary dance. Students engage in the training of basic dance skills, vocabulary, choreographic projects, video studies, and dance history. This class is for the student with no prior dance training.

Dance Technique is a yearlong course for fine arts credit. This course will build on the technical facility and skills attained in Dance I using intermediate skills and concepts through continued study of jazz, ballet/lyrical and modern/contemporary dance with the focus on the technical mastery of basic to intermediate skills. Students engage in the training of dance skills, vocabulary, choreographic projects, video studies, and dance history. 

Intermediate Dance is a yearlong course for fine arts and is intended for students who have adequate formal training. This course will explore various disciplines of dance including jazz/hip hop, ballet/lyrical and modern/contemporary, and stylized dance with the focus on the technical mastery and performance of intermediate to semi-advanced skills. Students engage in intense choreographic projects, video studies, and dance history.

Advanced Dance is a yearlong course for fine arts and is intended for students who have adequate formal training. This course will explore various disciplines of dance including jazz/hip hop, ballet/lyrical, and modern/contemporary, and stylized dance with the focus on the technical mastery and performance of advanced skills. Students engage in intense choreographic projects, video studies, and dance history. An emphasis will be placed on exploring different avenues of dance performance beyond high school.