With recital and finals right around the corner, my schedule could never be busier. I am a junior at Staples High School and have been dancing at the academy since 6th grade. I started dancing a little later than most, but it hasn’t stopped dance from becoming my passion.
Over the years, I have grown as a dancer and as a person due to the incredible training and opportunities provided by the teachers at the academy. I have had unbelievable experiences through performances at recital, and especially the Nutcracker, and was thrilled with the Winter Showcase that took place in March. It is the academy where my best friends, if not sisters, are and a place that I am proud to call my second home. I love everything about dance, from the hours of training in the studio to the minutes on stage where my jaw hurts from smiling too hard.
Aside from dance, I love having fun and being with my friends, family, and boyfriend. My friends, especially from the academy, are a huge part of my life and the relationships we have created will last forever. As college approaches, my schedule will continue to fill and my life will be loaded with stress. It is definitely a challenge to balance my schedule with schoolwork and countless hours at dance, but everything is worth it because dance makes everything more enjoyable.
I will definitely continue to dance in the future and I hope to minor in dance in college, or at least dance on the side. After college, I would love to study education and one day become a teacher. Who knows, maybe even a dance teacher!
As my schedule fills with different workshop rehearsals, I know that performance day is finally approaching! For the ten years I’ve been dancing at the Academy, the anticipation of a performance has always been the most stressful (but exciting) part of my experience. I remember the very first time I ever performed on stage, as a little blue soldier in the Nutcracker- I was so nervous, I actually threw up backstage and ruined what I had been dreaming about for months- performing on the stage, under the bright lights, the audience applauding. Now, even though I still get butterflies, I know not to let my nervousness get in the way of my dancing. Instead, I focus on enjoying the feeling of being onstage and just doing my best! In doing so, I’ve gained so many great memories with all my wonderful friends at the studio. I never want to stop dancing- it’s the best feeling in the world! I’m a junior at Staples High School right now, but I know that even when I go to college, I’ll keep dancing as a part of my life.
As my schedule fills with different workshop rehearsals, I know that performance day is finally approaching! For the ten years I’ve been dancing at the Academy, the anticipation of a performance has always been the most stressful (but exciting) part of my experience. I remember the very first time I ever performed on stage, as a little blue soldier in the Nutcracker- I was so nervous, I actually threw up backstage and ruined what I had been dreaming about for months- performing on the stage, under the bright lights, the audience applauding. Now, even though I still get butterflies, I know not to let my nervousness get in the way of my dancing. Instead, I focus on enjoying the feeling of being onstage and just doing my best! In doing so, I’ve gained so many great memories with all my wonderful friends at the studio. I never want to stop dancing- it’s the best feeling in the world! I’m a junior at Staples High School right now, but I know that even when I go to college, I’ll keep dancing as a part of my life.
After all of the hard work and hours of rehearsals put into The Nutcracker, I’m so sad that it’s already over. On the other hand, I am so proud to belong to a studio where the entire cast and crew put in so much dedication to the show, and all of the performances were absolutely incredible. Several of my family members came to the show and continue to rave about the great success—plus they are still trying to get the music out of their heads after seeing it three times. I moved to Weston in sixth grade so I haven’t belonged to the academy for that long, yet I somehow feel like the studio is my second home. The bonds that I have made with the other girls are incredibly strong, the dance education I receive is really great, and the classroom environment is so much fun that I never want to leave. Trying to balance everything as a junior in high school while spending hours at the studio every single day definitely makes a chaotic schedule, but the benefits I receive make it all worth it. The satisfaction you get from nailing a trick, the pride you feel from conquering a skill you struggled with, and the adrenaline that floods through you as an entire audience watches you and appreciates your hard work make dance so rewarding. When I’m not at the studio I enjoy spending time with my family and I hope to one day follow in my mother’s footsteps and grow up to be a nurse, although I’m sure I couldn’t survive without a few dance classes on the side!
With Nutcracker fast approaching I hope everyone is enjoying rehearsals and is as excited for the show as I am. I have lived in Weston since first grade and have been attending classes at the academy since third. As a senior this is my 10th and final Nutcracker. I love everything about the process from auditions to the final bow. I love the thrill you get on stage when the audience is watching your hours of practice pay off. Maybe the only thing to parallel this feeling is outside on the field. When I am not in the studio dancing, I am on the turf playing field hockey. As a member of Weston High School’s Varsity field hockey team I am as dedicated to field hockey as I am to dance. While these two sports appear physically different, mentally they could not be more alike. Each requires the skill to match the performance. You must anticipate your next move while making them fluid. While at times it is challenging to balance everything I am able to reap the rewards. Although I am not sure if I will continue to dance in college it will remain part of my life. I am so grateful for everyone that has taught and supported me throughout my years at the academy. Thank you to all my teachers, past and present!
coming soon to a blog near you … sr. company dancer profiles. allison o’toole will be our first profile so keep an eye out for her story!
