While Barnard is certainly known for academics, it also attracts some of the world’s finest dancers because of its exceptional dance program. It is no wonder that there are about 15 different dance clubs at Columbia University ranging from the Belly-dancing Troupe, to the outstanding hip-hop dance group, Onyx.
Ā Allie Schwartz is truly a brand name in the dance world here. She is known for being extremely bubbly and friendly, but when she hits the dance-floor, you better believe she “balls so hard…that s^%t crazy!”
Ā 5,6,7,8…meet Allie!
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Technically, I took my first ballet class when I was two years old, although Iāve been told I pretty much came into this world jumpinā and movinā, and havenāt stopped since.
Do you have any funny/embarrassing stories that relate to your dance career?
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Unfortunately, I have way too many. I was performing āDivertimento No. 15ā with my old Ballet School (a classical Balanchine Balletā¦.they donāt mess around), and one of my best friends was performing a variation (a solo). She was super nervous and asked me to stand in the wings and make funny faces at her, to calm her nerves. WELL, me being the jokester that I am, I not only agreed to this in a hot second, but I became so invested in making faces, that I didnāt realize I was actually taking small steps forward, ONTO the stage. What I failed to realize was that a) I was standing directly in front of the stage light and b) I was wearing a tutu (side note: Tutuās are flammable). Long story short, I almost set myself on fire. Luckily I noticed the smoke, and the smell of burning tulle.
What is your favorite kind of dance?
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That is a surprisingly difficult question. I love love LOVE to dance and watch hip-hop, but I was actually trained as a classical ballerina for 19 years (quite the combo, I realizeā¦I think it depends on what kind of mood Iām in, honestly. If Iām serious and focused, ballet is such a great workout for literally every muscle in your body, but when that time comes, right around Thursday night, and Iām ready to get my clubbing on and ālet the kids knowā, I do love me a little swaggg (pun intended- āSwaggg is my ONYX nickname).
Ā One thing (besides coffee) you could not live without?
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My kitties, MJ and Rex. They are super fluffy and adorable, and I love them!
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
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Well, I am an environmental science major, and Iām thinking I want to pursue a career in atmospheric sciences once I graduate, so, if I stay with that path, hopefully Iāll be working for some sort of research facility or governmental agency like the EPA. Dancing has always been a huge part of my life, and hopefully in 10 years, Iāll still be dancing as much as I am today, maybe even for a small company. Also, my mom thinks I should be a weathergirl, so I wonāt rule that idea out yet.
Ā If you could be any character on a TV show, who would you be?
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I donāt watch very much TV, but if it can be a movie character, Iāve heard many times from close friends that I would be Dory from finding Nemo. My sister āendearinglyā refers to me as the ādumbest smart personā sheās ever metā¦hence, Dory. Common sense isnāt necessarily my strongest suit, but I pull it together when push comes to shove.
Ā Tom Cruise or Charlie Sheen?
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Charlie Sheenā¦.definitely. Two and a half men. Great show. Wellā¦it wasā¦.No pressure, Ashton.
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Perfect Day…?
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A perfect day for me would involve spending the day outside in gorgeous sunny weather with either close friends or family, and then coming home (maybe with a nice tanā¦.that never hurts), and getting ready to go out to dinner, (I weirdly enjoy the āgetting readyā processā¦I could be (almost) totally OK with getting ready to go out and then going nowhere) and then going CLUBBING. Somewhere where I can TEAR UP THE DANCE FLOOR. Salsa club, anyone? Ugh, now all I want to do is go salsa dancingā¦.
Ā What’s in your handbag?
Ā Pretty much everything but the kitchen sink. I could give Hermione and her āmagical purseā a run for her money. She pulls out a camping tent and I pull outā¦well, you pretty much name it, and Iāve got it.
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