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!