How long have you been a dancer? Have you trained at a dance studio or did you begin at Sage?

I used to do ballet at a place called the Classical Dance Center in Tustin. I began dancing around age three or four there, but I took a two-year break when I was 8 and started dancing again at age 10. I am classically trained, but as I grew older, I decided ballet wasn’t for me and tried other various forms of dance, which I soon fell in love with.

What styles of dance can you do?

I am classically trained in ballet, but I can also do hip-hop, character, jazz, contemporary, modern, and lyrical.

What is your favorite style of dance?

My favorite style of dance is contemporary because it is a beautiful blend of lyrical and modern dance. Some movements in contemporary can be sharp and staccato, while others can be soft, graceful, and fluid. Thus, it combines the best of both worlds.

What do you think your strengths are as a dancer?

My feet have high arches, which helped with my many years of dancing on pointe. Aside from this, I believe, and while I’m not perfect, that I can really bring forth a lot of emotion while dancing. Dance is not purely technique; it also takes expression and feeling to really bring the art to life.  I think, at least I hope, that the audience feels something when I dance.

Why do you love to dance?

Dancing, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful art forms. It allows both the dancer and the audience to be transported into other realms and dimensions through a sequence of movements. I’ve always admired dancers from an early age because of how strong, supple, and dedicated they are. There are so many forms of dance and each piece of choreography is different. Dancers can assume so many different roles and convey so many emotions with so many effortlessly beautiful movements. I’ve always loved the creativity and imagination that comes with dance. It is a living, breathing art form, which has no bounds. Thus, being apart of someone’s vision come to life is very special for me as well as making my own unique twist on some of the movements. I love the rush of adrenaline when I dance in front of others, and no matter how much physical pain I might endure through each practice and process of learning the steps, the product is all worth it for me.

Is dance one of your passions or is it more of just a fun activity for you?

Initially, ballet was my passion, and I really had this idea that I would become a dancer and join a ballet company. However, around age 14, I decided I would no longer pursue this dream for a couple of reasons, so I quit ballet. That being said, as I transitioned to Sage, I became more passionate about other forms of dance such as lyrical, modern, and contemporary. I love dance, and I will never give it up. It is one of my passions, but I have other passions, too. I hope to continue dancing, but I wish to devote my time to another passion that I have as well.

How did you mainly contribute to Sage’s fall dance show?

For the fall dance collective at Sage this past year, entitled “Dance for a Cause,” I choreographed a piece about domestic violence. While it was a tough topic to talk about, let alone choreograph, I felt it was an important one to address. My piece included three women (the dancers) who were struggling with a situation of domestic abuse, either within a romantic relationship or between two family members. Dance should make us feel things, as audience members, and I hope that my piece was successful in doing just that.

Do you think you will want to continue dancing after Sage, whether formally or informally?

I definitely would like to continue dancing after Sage. I think if I were to give it up completely, while it may sound cliché, I would lose a little piece of myself. Dance has always played a role in my childhood, and it really took me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to take more risks. It has made me a much more confident person, and I can’t just throw all those years of training away. I love it, so I will continue to dance after high school.