Gannon Duffy graduated from Frenship High School in 2021. He was a proud member of the dance and theatre program, serving on the Pom squad and participating in the fall fine arts musicals throughout his high school career. He was also a member of the National Thespians Honor Society and performed in more than 15 on-stage productions  

“We are extremely proud of Gannon and his professional pursuit of dance. Gannon represents everything we are as a dance program,” said Melissa Oakeley, Dance Teacher and Varsity Pom Coach. “He was in our regular JAZZ and TAP classes, he was part of both JV and Varsity Pom and he was a feature dancer in our fall fine arts musical all 4 years of his time in high school. The professional dance industry is incredibly hard and competitive and so to see our kids on that path is rewarding in so many ways.” 

Since graduating, Duffy has continued to pursue his love for dance. He attended classes at both Oklahoma City University and West Texas A&M University where he had the opportunity to learn about working in the dance industry. His first professional contract as a dancer was in the TEXAS Outdoor Musical in Palo Duro Canyon. His dancing abilities then took him to Sandusky, Ohio, where he professionally danced at Cedar Point Amusement Park. After that, he made his way back to West Texas and performed with a contemporary company, “Emergence” in Amarillo. He now teaches dance at The Edge, a dance studio in Amarillo.  

Duffy visited the advanced dance classes at Frenship High School and shared pieces of wisdom he’s learned since graduating. Topics included: taking care of dancing bodies, audition processes, entering the professional dance world, and making a connection between high school dance and dance after graduation.  

“Gannon shared a great deal of wisdom to our advanced dance classes including college dance degrees and opportunities, college dance team audition advice, non-college-based conservatories and companies both locally and around the US that provide different experiences and opportunities as well as dancer health, social media networking, and life advice for dancers. He also taught a contemporary combination to our dancers as well,” said Oakeley.  

Giving back to the program that invested in his love for dance is what inspired Duffy’s visit to the high school. His goal was to share different professional dance opportunities that students can pursue after graduation.  

 “As I have stepped away from the dance community in Lubbock and experienced many different avenues and careers that are possible through the art, I have realized that growing up the dance community in Lubbock and surrounding area was very much driven toward collegiate and professional dance teams. While these are extremely important and impressive careers for dancers to have, they are certainly not the only ones. I ultimately wanted to show the dancers at Frenship that there’s a whole world to explore in the entertainment career and to not limit themselves to one sub-genre,” said Duffy. 

In addition to sharing wisdom, Duffy led a master class for the students. The choreography was a contemporary combination from Emergence, a contemporary dance company in Amarillo.  

“I taught some repertoire from Emergence’s Debut Performance “Awakening”, said Duffy. 

Oakeley believes that having past Frenship students come back to share their experiences leaves a big impact on the current students.  

“We love having Frenship Alum come back to share their experiences because it allows our kids to see that it is possible to come from where they currently are and pursue their dance dreams,” said Oakeley. “Our alumni have been in these students' shoes before, have walked the same halls and have practiced in the same studios, and they bring back an appreciation for the program and what it did for them that they can share as well as a level of relatability that non-alumni couldn't necessarily provide. When you join our dance program, you join a family- and we love it when they come back home.” 

Duffy plans on continuing to pursue professional dance. He dreams of one day owning his own studio and sharing his love for dance with others.  

“I believe I was put on this earth to be an entertainer, I have already achieved so much as a young performer, but of course I still have my dreams and goals,” said Duffy. “Currently, I’m taking some time to build a little bit more financial stability and maturity before I begin to perform full time. Once I’m ready, I plan to start auditioning and performing for all sorts of work including cruise ships, Disney and other theme parks, regional theatre and maybe even some touring productions. After my performance career, I hope to begin choreographing and teaching through masterclasses, workshops and hopefully even my own studio.” 

Duffy feels honored to share his experiences with the students and hopes that it impacts their future dance pursuit.  

“I’d like to thank the dance teachers at Frenship High School for having me come speak with their kids. I feel that it’s very important to keep the younger generation educated in their options. I know not every student in that classroom will choose to dance after high school, but if one of them does, hopefully I was able to give them some helpful advice. I will always be grateful for the foundation and drive that the Frenship Fine Arts Program gave to me.”