Final Destination Cloggers

          

Andrew and Kacie Babbitt
Owners/Directors
“2009 CCA All-Pro Directors of the Year”

Andrew and Kacie Babbitt were born and raised in Orange County, California. This sibling duo began clogging in 1990 at the ages of 5 and 6, respectively. Clogging immediately became their passion and they soon joined a competitive clogging team called Buckshot: The Next Generation, under the direction of Grayce and Eric Bice. Here they competed for the next 10 years, growing as dancers and as people.

At the ages 15 and 16, Andrew and Kacie began teaching clogging at local dance studios throughout Orange County. Together, they ran weekly classes at Dance, Etc. Music Arts in Yorba Linda, Imperial Dance Studio in Brea, and Momentum Dance Center in Yorba Linda. Here, their love for clogging continued to grow as their individuality was soon born.

In 2001, Andrew and Kacie decided to follow their dreams and form their very own competition team, Final Destination. It was here they believed they could express themselves artistically to their full potential, strive to be positive role models who lead their dancers by example, teach that rewards come through nothing but talent, dedication and hard work, and give back to people what clogging has given to them. After much thought, they decided on the name Final Destination because Andrew and Kacie both knew in their hearts this was to be the conclusion of their clogging journey: the opportunity to pursue whole-heartedly their clogging purpose, their ultimate freedom of expression, and the last place they would ever dance.

Since the creation of Final Destination in 2001, Andrew and Kacie have led their team to 10 NCHC National Category Titles and 7 Overall Grand Champion Team titles at CCA and NCHC regional competitions. Andrew and Kacie have both been selected as members of the NCHC All-Star Team for the following years: 1999, 2003, 2006, 2007, and 2008, as well as the CCA All-Pro Team for the years 2008 and 2009. Andrew was also named Captain of the NCHC All-Star Team in 2006, and inducted into the NCHC All-Star Hall of Fame at the 2008 National Championships. Their most recent and treasured accomplishment was being named the 2009 CCA All-Pro Directors of the Year, for the second consecutive year, at the CCA Showdown of Champions in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

In 2004, just 3 years after the start of Final Destination, Andrew and Kacie opened a clogging studio in Brea where they currently direct 4 competition teams and teach students of all ages.

Andrew and Kacie are fully committed to sharing their love and passion for this percussive dance with other cloggers and non-cloggers alike. They enjoy traveling the United States, teaching at workshops, judging at competitions, and choreographing for other studios. Andrew and Kacie were featured at the 2006 National Clogging Convention in Phoenix, Arizona, where they both taught as Introductory Instructors. They have also taught workshops at the BYU Cougar Clogging Classic in Provo, Utah (2007, 2008, 2009), as well as Master Classes at the Southern Dance Academy in Gaffney, South Carolina. Andrew and Kacie have both judged at the Dixie Spectacular in St. George, Utah (2008), as well as the North Carolina Clogging Challenge in Hickory, North Carolina (2007, 2008). They have also enjoyed creating competition choreography for other studios in places like Utah, Nevada, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

It’s hard to believe that what started out as a silly little dance class with a simple pair of white clogging shoes could turn into all of this. Andrew and Kacie will forever cherish the heart-warming memories and life-long friendships they have made through this beloved obsession they call clogging.