Dancer of the Week: Lily Shores

It is our great honor to present our first 2026-27 Season Dancer of the Week Spotlight:

Liliana “Lily” Shores, our 2026 Endless Mountains Dance Center MVD: Most Valuable Dancer.

This award is given to a dancer who is a truly outstanding asset to our studio community - someone who shows up with dedication, heart, leadership, kindness, and a love for dance that shines both on and off the stage. Lily represents all of that beautifully.

She has been dancing for 12 years and trains in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Contemporary, Modern, Musical Theater, Pointe, and with our Competition Team. When asked to choose one word to describe herself, Lily chose joyful and anyone who knows her can understand why.

Right now, her favorite style is contemporary, and her favorite move is a calypso. She loves learning choreography, seeing her friends, and being part of the energy that makes dance class feel like home.

When asked what she loves most about dance, Lily shared:

“I really fell in love with dance when I started learning lyrical. I love making a story come to life with choreography and musicality.”

That love for storytelling is one of the things that makes Lily such a special performer. She does not just learn steps- she works to understand the music, the movement, and the emotion behind the choreography.

This year, Lily also showed a different kind of strength.

When asked what she was proud of in dance this year, she said:

“I am proud of persevering through the recital with a bad injury.”

And we are proud of her for that, too.

Lily’s recital season showed us something incredibly important: she cared deeply about showing up for her team, while also learning to listen to her body and take care of herself. Both of those things matter. Being a strong dancer is not just about pushing through. It is also about maturity, awareness, responsibility, and knowing that taking care of yourself is part of being a great teammate.

That balance is one of the many reasons Lily was chosen as our 2026 Most Valuable Dancer.

Lily’s dance friends would probably say she is known for knowing the counts and choreography- and we would have to agree. She is dependable, focused, and always paying attention to the details that help a group feel prepared and confident.

Her dance bag staples are also very Lily through and through: gluten-free Cheez-Its and an extra water bottle. Prepared, practical, and ready for a long dance day.

When asked what she hopes future dancers learn, Lily said:

“I hope they learn to go all out, do their best, and never hold back.”

That advice feels like such a perfect reflection of Lily. She dances with commitment. She supports the people around her. She brings joy into the room. And she understands that dance is about effort, growth, friendship, and heart.

For new dancers who may be feeling nervous, Lily offered this encouragement:

“It is normal to be nervous. Everyone makes mistakes. Believe in yourself and in your training. Your teammates are there to support you.”

Her favorite thing about EMDC is:

“The relationships we build with both students and teachers.”

That answer says so much about who Lily is. She values the people, the connections, and the community that make the studio more than just a place to take class.

When asked if there was anything she absolutely had to have included in her spotlight, Lily’s only response was John 15:12-13:

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

If that doesn't sum up her heart in all the best ways we don't know what does. Lily, we are so proud of you.

Thank you for being joyful, hardworking, thoughtful, dependable, and such a bright part of the EMDC family. Your perseverance, heart, and love for your teammates make you so deserving of this year’s Most Valuable Dancer award.

Congratulations, Lily! 💙