Dear Miss Idaho Prep,

Talent. Everyone loves talent. It is more than seeing a girl walk around with her hot bod in a swimsuit and it is more than a beautiful evening gown. It is the one opportunity for a girl to share with the audience and the judges a piece of herself through something she loves to do. Not only showing what she loves, but showing how hard she can work for something. Talent is not a walk in the park. You can't just do well and expect to win. You have to work hard. You have to practice every day. You have to sell your talent to the audience. And most of all, you have to be proud of your 1 minute 30 second piece. Because when you are proud, it shows!

My talent is tap dancing. And let me tell you, my tap dancing skills have some a long way in the last few years. I love to tap, I love the preciseness of it, I love that you can tap to any style or genre of music and it is still tap. I have done a big band number and an MJ number... this year I am stepping into something more traditional tap and walking away from the red costumes.

My 2010 talent piece.

"Boogie Bumper" by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. 

 My 2011 talent piece.

"Black or White" by Michael Jackson.

I am SO excited to have another opportunity to share with the judges and the audience something that I am truly passionate about. I love dancing, and my favorite style is tap. I love playing up the audience. I love the trick moves. I love the to style the dance after the famous tap dancers that paved the way. Tap dancing has been a huge part of my life. I am grateful to Kim and Willa Dean Nielsen for pushing tap in the Stargazer Company. When so many companies were turning to the trendy dance styles, they stuck to what they knew. And because of that I have a passion. Dance isn't a hobby, it is a way of life. I cannot wait for the talent portion of Miss Idaho.

Love,

Deidre