Name: Teagan Reese
School and Year: FCRH 2018
Major/Minor: International Political Economy and French
Campus Involvement: Founding Member of Fordham’s First Ballet Company: The Jetés
1. What is your favorite thing about Fordham? I really appreciate that at Fordham, I am able to pursue so many different things. I can study political economy, french, math. I can do ballet and be a part of the french club and study abroad and do a global outreach project and so much more, all at the same campus. And even better, my community here on campus supports me in doing all of these different things.
2. What is a surprising fact about you? I really like doing the New York Times crossword puzzles, but only Monday through Wednesday, and the occasional Thursday.
3. What is the best or most challenging aspecet of being a part of Fordham’s first ballet company? After being a dancer for so many years, I find it really challenging to be on the leadership side of things. When you’re a company member, you never have to think about where to rehearse, having the proper floors, paying for costumes, or casting company members. It can be difficult to maneuver between treasurer, choreographer, teacher and dancer all within one group.
4. How long have you been dancing? I’ve been taking ballet for 17 years, ever since I asked my mom to put me in ballet when I was 3!
5. How do you balance dance and school? All throughout high school, I had to balance dance classes with schoolwork which really helped prepare me for managing my time at Fordham. And now I can’t really imagine doing one without the other. I don’t think I would be as good of a student without dance, and I wouldn’t be as passionate of a dancer without pursuing other interests.
6. Any favorite memories involving dance? Favorite routine or piece maybe? At Fordham, my favorite dance would have to be a combination to the Ignition Remix that we learned at a hip hop class at the Fordham gym (thanks, J-Mac!). I have found such an amazing community through that dance class and can’t imagine Fordham without it.
7. Any plans after graduation yet? After graduation, I would really like to become a Foreign Service Officer, but that depends on me passing the Foreign Service Exam, and whether or not a certain president hasn’t cut all of the funding to the State Department…
8. You’re a vegetarian, any favorite vegetarian recipes? Well, my favorite vegetarian recipe that I can cook for myself would have to be stir-fry with “porkless pork bites” from Whole Foods. It may sound a little questionable, but if you fry up that “pork” with some onions and green pepper and serve it over rice, it tastes just like Chinese takeout. Try it. Also, my favorite vegetarian meal to buy is hands down the Shroom Burger from Shake Shack. I would 100% recommend it to even the most devoted carnivores.
9. If you could pick anyone to dance with, who would it be? This is so difficult… If I had to choose a celebrity I would definitely want to dance with Mikhail Baryshnikov. In third grade, I did a presentation on him and dressed up like a male ballet dancer in front of my entire class.
10. Any advice for freshman? Don’t be afraid to create your own opportunities. When I got to Fordham there wasn’t a student ballet company or French Club. If you start off struggling to find “your place” at college, maybe it doesn’t even exist yet, and maybe there is a whole group of students just like you waiting to find their own community on campus.