How To Become A Pre-Professional Dancer

When I started volunteering at Utica Dance in the fall of 2014, I was just as nervous as the newly enrolled dancers in the class I was about to teach. Even though I was only the Volunteer Assistant to the Dance Instructor, I felt as if a heavy responsibility was placed upon me. I oversaw almost twelve children ranging from seven to thirteen who all wanted desperately to become professional dancers, many of which are still pursuing that dream. On top of that, all these children had begged their parents to sign them up for an expensive, intensive fundamental ballet program; then dragged their parents to buy tights and leotards; then dragged them into the waiting room of a dance

Whether rooted deeply through generations of a family or formed through an experience, passions and fascinations are what drives us, humans, to be who we truly are. At this point in my life, I do not want to reach comfort or perfection, but rather feel composed and confident in what I chose to merge my ballet skills with. When I dance, I escape reality and feel a pure exhilaration.This sensation shapes my curiosity and interest in the human anatomy. From the elements that make it up to ways in which people individually move their bodies, the human body is absolutely fascinating. Specifically, I am passionate about teaching ballet to younger students. By introducing ballet to kids early on, they will experience the same joy almost all dancers feel for a longer period of time. When I’m dancing I’m challenging your mind, releasing endorphins, and working hard. I am also eager to own my own business linked with teaching that will provide people with affordable dance equipment, and even more crucial, advice on what suits each person's personal needs. I know as I grow old my body will not be as capable as it once was, but I’m dedicated to spreading my appreciation of ballet to others. Overall, my passion for ballet and how I can utilize it to positively impact society as an entrepreneur has developed through the inspiration of my grandparents, the creativity of my former dance teachers, and my interest in the human bodies relation to ballet.

Leah had some news to tell all of her friends from the football team, and it wasn’t like she was leaving them she’d see them at school and play with them in the winter time. But right now Leah had to make sure her mom doesn’t find out that ballet dancers get hurt pretty much as frequently and endure serious injury as much as competitors in physical games. (AT Surgical)

“What are you even doing here? I have never seen such flawed technique in all my years as a choreographer.” The words echoed throughout the medical college auditorium. Impelled by the admonishment in front of my peers, I persevered in my endeavor to improve upon my dancing prowess and by the final year of medical school was leading the college dance team. The above mentioned undertaking further spawned an interest for the discipline of Latin Ballroom which lead to participation at the national level. The unwavering focus and persistence even in the face of unfavorable odds is more broadly reflective of my approach towards learning, both academic and extracurricular. This has been instrumental in achieving stellar academic outcomes including being ranked nationally in the top 0.0004 percent in the premedical test and the top 0.6 percent in the common aptitude test for management training.

For over a decade, I stood at the same barre in front of the same mirror, and I watched myself change. Without my knowledge, ballet began to shape me as a person. Because of the grueling hours spent refining my technique, I developed discipline. Despite the hard days of practice, I never gave up. My body learned as well, and my muscles still contain the leanness of a dancer. Whenever someone compliments me on my ability to tie my hair into a bun on the top of my head, I always smile conspiratorially.

I remember explaining to her the physical predicament I was in, and her falling silent as she struggled to say something comforting. Finally, breaking the silence, I said, "It seems I have two choices. I can have a life with ballet in it, or I can get surgery and have one without it. I choose a life with ballet." She looked relieved, counted it as a positive session, and sent me on my way. I realized then that I had to be the one to keep choosing a career in ballet, as society would accept me following a traditional path quite easily, but it would mean compromising feeling passion for what I was doing. My time at SAB culminated in an apprenticeship with the New York City Ballet, something that, three years later, still seems unreal to

Growing up was never easy for me, but I did not let that stop me from pursuing my ballet career. I didn’t grow up doing ballet, and taking my first ballet class at the Boys and Girls Club at age 13 gave me a setback compared to others who may have been dancing since they were 3. My teacher put me into many positions,

Our coaches had told us since the beginning that the months and months we would spend preparing for one particular day would all be worth it in the end. Taking place at New Castle Fieldhouse in early March 2015, I competed in the IHSDTA Dance team competition with my fellow teammates and members of the NHS dance team. We walked into the vast, expansive Fieldhouse knowing that it was the largest High School Fieldhouse in the Nation. The anticipation in the air was electric and full of excited chatter of girls who had been preparing for months for this one day… actually for these two minutes.

I have danced every year of my life since. I am humbled to say, that through long days and nights in the studio, sacrificing time with my friends and family, all of the blood, sweat, and tears, I have accomplished what I have been working for since I was a little girl waddling around swallowed in a big pink tutu. I was chosen for the lead role of Cinderella in the Danscompany of Gainesville’s “Cinderella Ballet.” This accomplishment is a reflection of my consistent and sustained work ethic. This tenacity is reflected in other areas of my life and will be a defining characteristic that I carry to

I’ve grown up in a ballet studio. Not literally, of course, but it is where I’ve spent the majority of my childhood. Throughout the years, the arts have followed me despite the different places life has taken me. Whether it be dance, acting, or music, performing has always played a role in my life. My experiences both on and off the stage have been rocky and unpredictable, but I wouldn’t trade this thrilling adventure for the world.

So far many of them the states are high’. The judges are international starts; they are seeking for nothing but perfection and are highly strung. Though they have a very high ‘respect for dance’. We see triumph as reward for hard work but we also see despair. We discovered that ballet dancers are vulnerable to injury as esteemed athletes.

‘It takes much strength to be a ballet dancer,’ said the teacher. ‘Now we must practice for our

Anyone who has heard of “Dance Moms,” would look at someone who says, “I’ve grown up in a dance studio," with horror. I’m here to prove that sentiment wrong. When I was eight, I enrolled in my first dance class at Buffa’s Dance Studio. Nine years later, the studio director offered me a job. This opportunity soon became much more than a typical high school part time job. I worked side by side with the studio owner; each year registering 500+ dancers for their annual classes, order thousands of costumes and producing six recitals, complete with lighting, sound, and special effects. Although not realizing it at the time, she had offered me much more than a job. It was there I would spend my summer days and nights, working with and learning

Brittyn filled me in on her previous back surgery, and informed me about all the chaos it had given her for some time, “I could barely walk right after my surgery, and I had to miss multiple days of class during the recovery period,” she said when we discussed why she had to have such a serious surgery. After cheering for a total of seven years, it had brought a heavy burden upon her life since she had not been able to in months. “I’ve been cheering none stop since the sixth grade, so having to stop because of my back problems was a huge loss,” she explained as she frowned a little and took a bite of her

As I'm about to leave to catch a plane back to Portland, I am thinking about the year I've had.. all the new people I've met and places I've been, all the life lessons I've learned. Its been a rough year, but I'm so lucky to have such amazing friends and family to have supported and loved me unconditionally along the way. Next year I will no longer be training to become a professional ballet dancer due to the injury I have been struggling with all year. This has been the hardest decision of my life by far, but life will throw things your way and you have to make the best of it. I am proud of my self for how far I have come with ballet, and so very appreciative for all the things I've gotten to do because of ballet. I would do all of it again