Q: How long have you been dancing?
A: I have been dancing for 15 years.

Q: Where do you dance?
A: I danced at Stage 1 Dance Academy for 14 years, but between my sister and I, my family could no longer afford dance. Therefore, I quit Stage 1 so that my sister could continue dancing. I wouldn’t have been able to do this if I were not offered the opportunity to intern with Dance Kaleidoscope, a professional dance company, though. I only come to school half days and leave to drive to Butler and train with DK.

Q: What types of dance do you do?
A: I started out doing ballet and tap, but then I started doing jazz, modern, hip-hop, contemporary, musical theater, and lyrical as well. My favorite style is definitely modern though.

Q: Why do you dance?
A: For me, dance is a way to get away from whatever is bothering me. I know that the minute I start dancing, I can just focus on the task at hand and not worry about what is going on outside of the dance room.

Q: What inspired you to dance?
A: My mom actually put me in dance when I was three because I would try and dance around the house. I never knew that it would be something so important to me.

Q: Why do you keep dancing?
A: I keep dancing purely because I love it. I love the feeling that comes when you nail a dance or move, and it is so rewarding to feel the pain in your body after a hard practice. It just makes me feel so happy inside.

Q: Will you go to college for dance?
A: I would like to double major, with dance being one of said majors. I don’t think that it will be my career, but I can’t just stop dancing because it is part of who I am. If I can, I will also be on a college dance team.

Q: Will dance help you later in life?
A: Dance has taught me so much more than just the steps. It has created a strong sense of discipline and dedication within me. It has also forced me to be hard-working and to manage my time. All of these skills have helped and will continue to help me through life.

Q: What makes dancing different than other activities?
A: Dancing is more than just a sport. It teaches you so many lifelong skills that you can apply to whatever you are doing. It is also more team oriented. I would not be able to be such a strong dancer if it weren’t for the support of those around me, including those on the dance team and at DK.

Q: Any memorable stories from or about dance?
A: I have so many crazy stories from dance over the years that I will cherish forever. Whether it be kicking my friend in the neck with tap shoes or just going out to team dinners after football games, my memories from dance have helped shape who I am today.