Major: Psychology and DanceYear: FreshmanHometown: Westport, CT
How did you first get into dancing?I started dancing was I was three, at a small ballet school that all of the little girls in my town went to. I would always dance around the house and watch musicals, plus we realized early on sports were not going to be my thing (lol), so my mom enrolled me.
Is this something you are hoping to continue after graduation?I plan to be either a kids therapist or kindergarten teacher, but I hope that I am able to continue to take dance classes and maybe keep performing.
What is the hardest part about dance? The endurance and the ability to push through the pain.
Any advice for girls who are aspiring to get into the dance?Go take a class! And if taking a class is not in budget for you go on YouTube! Though not the same, it is a great way to get your feet wet and just try it.
What are some of your favorite types of dance?Musical Theatre Jazz. I love telling stories when I dance, and being a dancer in a musical has the job to project the story onto the audience. It’s the best of both worlds for me.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?There’s a dance in the show A Chorus Line called Music and the Mirror performed by the lead girl Cassie. The dance tells the story of Cassie’s trials and tribulations of trying to find work as a dancer. Mainly though, it tells the story of what happens when a dancer is alone in a room, given a mirror, some music, and the magic that occurs; the ability to let it all go and just dance. The dance contains many sections, all with different dynamics. If done correctly, the audience is on the edge of their seat until the dancers final pose. I learned this dance off YouTube, also from being apart of a production of it at my high school and religiously watching the choreography. When I perform or choreograph a piece that’s what I aim to accomplish: dynamics in my dancing, telling a story, and most importantly to feel that rush of joy as a result of the work.
Favorite dance experience?I have been very lucky to perform amazing dances at prestigious venues, but my absolute favorite time to dance is before a show, when the house (audience) is empty and no one is in the theatre, including the stage crew. You get the feeling of an audience, due to the atmosphere, but get the freedom to step out of dance boundaries without the fear of judgment. Though I do not get to experience this often, it’s my favorite time to dance.