Charles Henderson High School senior Hannah Johnson has an opportunity to follow her dream, and she’s not going to let it slip by her.

For as long as Johnson can remember, she has wanted to dance with a big company in a big city.

The opportunity to be a member of the Dance Revolution “Ingredients” training company fills the bill. Ingredients is a big dance company and Dallas, Texas is a big city and, although she’s not quite packed, Johnson is ready to go.

“I’ve never been that far from home and, of course, not for that long,” Johnson said. “But I’m very excited about this opportunity and looking forward to it.”

As a participant in the Dance Revolution Convention in Winston-Salem, N.C. in January, Johnson took the “step” toward bigger things.

“At the Convention, I auditioned for the “Ingredients” Company,” Johnson said. “Ingredients is a mission, touring company and it is made up of a training company and a touring company. You have to audition during the Convention by wearing an audition tee shirt so they can watch everything you do during the convention. You also have to write an essay. Fifteen dancers from all across the country are chosen for the training team.”

Johnson waited anxiously to hear and it seemed as though the letter would never come.

“I got the letter Friday,” she said, with a smile. “It said, ‘Congratulations, you have been accepted.’ I didn’t read any of the rest.

Kelly Norris, dance instructor with In His Steps Dance Team at The Vine Church, said Johnson is an outstanding young woman as well as an accomplished dancer.

“In His Steps is a ministry of The Vine, and we have about 55 dancers enrolled,” Norris said. “We teach the techniques of dance and relate dance to the scriptures. There is a time and place for everything. There is time to dance and a time to seek God. You can seek God through dance.”

Norris said dancers are able to use dance as a form of worship and as a way to share one’s faith with others.

“Hannah has been on mission trips to Mexico and she has taught ballet in her bare feet,” Norris said. “Through dance, we can communicate our love of God. Hannah does that so well and she will do extremely well as a member of Ingredients.”

Johnson will leave for Dallas in late August or early September. She will live in an apartment complex with the other members of the Ingredients training and touring companies.

“Most of the first year is spent in classes,” she said. “We will do some traveling and performing. You have to complete the training before you can audition for the touring company. I’ll have to wait and see if that’s something I want to do but, right now, I think it is.”

Johnson’s plans for the future are to pursue a career in public relations.

“But I always want to be involved in dance in some way,” she said. “I would like to teach dancing or maybe be a member of a dance company where I live.”

Johnson is the daughter of Carla and Louis Johnson of Troy.