Dance Progression

From kindergarten until high school, I was a member of the Jean Wolfmeyer School of Dance. Up to 5 days per week, I would be at the dance studio taking classes, rehearsing for shows, and helping out in the less advanced classes. Regardless of skill level, Jean never hesitated to speak the brutally honest truth about students’ performances and she never settled for anything less than perfection. Jean would often preach that she is only the instruction manual and she cannot make us good dancers, we had to do that for ourselves. However, it was not her critique or teaching alone that motivated dancers to perform well, it was her relentless work ethic and commitment to her studio. As a 70 year-old women, Jean held classes as much as 7 days per

For the past six years, I have been dancing at Shirley Matta Dance Academy. I have been taught many dances of different variety such as jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, etc. The studio has recently begun offering Pointe classes, which I also attend. In addition to attending the studio, I also assist in teaching dance and gymnastics classes there. This has been an experience that I will never forget, especially since I spend most of my time at the dance studio. It has helped me in so many ways. Not only have I improved immensely as a dancer, my communication and leadership skills have skyrocketed as well. In fact, every Tuesday, I currently teach ballet to a group of about fifteen girls between the ages of 7-10 year all by myself. In

In “Showing What Is Possible,” Jacques D’Amboise reflects on an experience when a teacher helped him discover ballet. Madame Seda helped D’Amboise fulfill his talent. With ballet, he overcame the pressure to join a gang like his friends. D’Amboise was able to become a well-known ballet dancer with help from his teachers. When it was time to retire from dancing, he started the National Dance Institute. This project enabled D’Amboise to influence his own students around the world. An influential teacher can affect one’s future by challenging pupils to move past their comfort zones, teaching them to actively control their future, and setting up an environment where they can improve together.

As a youth, I engaged in many forms of dance expression. I studied tap, jazz, and ballet for fifteen years. During these formative years, I choose to forgo many youth experiences so that I could participate in advance dance programs. The hard work paid off when I received a college scholarship to a performing arts

This program identifies both physical activity and the creative and performing art endeavors. In addition to that, the students have the opportunity to parade their accomplishments through expressions and presentations (Reichert-Montiel, 2015). To show support, the school board consistently attend the Chance to Dance performances which sends a powerful message of support to all participants. Additionally, the school board gives a yearly allocation to safeguard facilitation between the district and Murphy’s Foundation (Reichert-Montiel,

Growing up was never easy for me, but I did not let that stop me from pursuing my ballet career. I didn’t grow up doing ballet, and taking my first ballet class at the Boys and Girls Club at age 13 gave me a setback compared to others who may have been dancing since they were 3. My teacher put me into many positions,

Last week was such an amazing experience! I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to dance with all my wonderful 4th period friends and take part in the Fall Show, “Subsequent”, with the rest of the BHS Dancers (including my wonderful big, Lindsey)! I’m really proud of how the dance department did as a whole. I love dancing at Brookwood High School because it’s so different than the strict ballet setting that I’m used to at my studio. It is also very special to be part of something at my school. As a Sugarloaf Ballet Company Dancer, I’ve not had this experience before. Dance has always been separate from my school. It is so exciting to be able to say that I dance for Ms. Ellen at Brookwood High School.

i try my best to show great leadership with in my dance studio. im am one of the oldest, which brings great responsibilty. I hope that the little girls see me as a role model, one who is repsectable, always try my best and never back down from a challenge. My biggest influnce i try to give is to never give up. even if you cant get it then there,with practice and dertermination anything can be down. within the past three years, ive been a assiatant/ student teacher under A Step Above. Watching the girls grow throughout the year is a wonderful sight,and being able to contrubute to the growth is a reward.

Visited a total 7 countries, including: France, Argentina, Peru, Chile, Uruguay, Mexico and Belgium. Trained with some of the best ballet master from the Paris Opera Ballet and sweated up to 10 hrs per day 5 days a week. Now I have transferred to UTEP so that I can graduate with my B.F.A. in dance with the help and guidance of Lisa Smith, the chair of the department. My accomplishments have not ended, they will not end when I graduate from UTEP, and they will not end 5 years from now. I would like to dedicate my time educating myself and the rest of the world. Teach them they have their own creativity and that they can learn how to develop it for their own benefit and to achieve their accomplishments just like I

My mouth hung open as I watched the gorgeous, graceful girls leap and twirl across the gym floor during their annual summer mini-camp. From that point forward, I knew that I wanted to be a Chiefette. I studied up on the history of the team, watched every one of their public performances, and enrolled in dance team preparation classes. Each year, the Chiefettes got better and better, and during each dance, their pirouettes and jetes grabbed my heart and carried me with them through their emotional journey. Their movement quality astounded me; I wasn’t exactly sure how a team of so many girls could dance in unison with seemingly effortless grace. I knew from talking to the girls on the elite team that they maintained excellent grades, participated in other school activities and sports, and volunteered within the community. These girls were my idols, and I thought that the only way to have a positive high school experience was to join the dance team. There was no question in my mind that I would be on the team all four years of high school, and because I had prior dance experience, that I would be one of the better dancers on the team. Throughout middle school, I dreamed about the day when I would finally be able to call myself a Chiefette, but I soon realized that I had no idea the amount of hard work and talent that it took to earn that

I have danced every year of my life since. I am humbled to say, that through long days and nights in the studio, sacrificing time with my friends and family, all of the blood, sweat, and tears, I have accomplished what I have been working for since I was a little girl waddling around swallowed in a big pink tutu. I was chosen for the lead role of Cinderella in the Danscompany of Gainesville’s “Cinderella Ballet.” This accomplishment is a reflection of my consistent and sustained work ethic. This tenacity is reflected in other areas of my life and will be a defining characteristic that I carry to

Within the dance community, and the community of DBHS, and Kingsport, and the Tri-Cities, I aspire to be someone who is identified as one who will accept control, and be welcoming to all I meet. My leadership goals for the upcoming duration are that, I want to end my concluding dance season as a strong, helpful leader, who is passionate about serving others. Then, when I am in college, I wish to join a sorority and several clubs and present myself to others in hope to begin new bonds. I desire to hold a leadership position in said sorority when I am older; I perceive that as a method for me to get the newer members to speak freely and form friendships rapidly, as I have some understanding of that. I want to set a positive, confident example for those nearby me and continue to lead by

The combination of my past experiences and quick thinking allowed me to become successful in my first year of instructing dance. Prior to employment, I had no formal training in instructing a dance class. My first class was filled with fifteen student who were between the ages of eight and ten. I was excited to finally teach a class, but I did not know what

I’ve been able to travel to places I’ve never been before, to bond with ladies who share the same passion as me, and of course to grow as a dancer. One of my most memorable dance experience’s was competing in my first national dance competition my sophomore year in high school. I was able to compete with thousands of teams from across the United States and even a few teams from other countries. I love the competition atmosphere and the moments I have to bond with my teammates. There’s nothing that can compare to dancing in front of thousands of people underneath those stage lights. The adrenaline rush I get is indescribable and to know that I’m sharing the dance floor with thirty-four other ladies that have the same goals as me is unbelievable. One of the best moments at the competition was walking away as third runner up overall when we competed against over 200 teams. Another memorable dance experience was when I went to dance camp at Oklahoma State university my senior year. I remember the very first day of camp they ran out of food and we had to order pizza to our dorms. The worst part about this was that we had to be performance ready within an hour and try to eat at the same time. It was extremely frustrating and stressful but at the end we performed and received our bid for nationals in Orlando, Florida. I honestly believe that the most excellent

Last year when I was a freshman, I was the treasurer of Panther Nation. Now I am in my second year of being on The Stone Memorial Dance Team. I have learned a lot from being on the team like what it means to be a team and to work together. I have learned that you sometimes have to take sacrifices for the greater good even if it is not exactly what you may want. I have also gained many leadership skills from being on the team, and was recently named the 2015-2016 captain. I believe all these things give me an advantage against my fellow