It was the year 2009 and I was in the 4/5’s preschool class at The Stanley Clark School. My mother had put me in all types of activities like soccer, basketball, softball, and skiing. She introduced me to playing the violin, swimming, and sailing, but I did not want to pursue any of them. My mom wanted me to do something so she kept looking until Stanley Clark and Southold Dance Company decided to offer a small ballet class on campus after school. My mother saw this opportunity and decided to enroll me. To her surprise, I enjoyed it a lot.

In that class, we would learn the basic steps like 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th positions. I remember at the end of each class we would pretend we were getting ready for a ballet performance and needed to do our best ballet walks across the “stage.” Ever since then, I have studied ballet with a passion. I still know the teacher who taught me in those very first classes. In fact, this year she helped me with my Youth American Grand Prix performance and has also taught me in jazz.

Throughout my time in ballet, I have had the great opportunity to meet principal dancers from ABT and the Royal Ballet. At the last production of Don Quixote, in the spring of 2018, I was awarded a certificate of achievement for most improved in the class. This past summer I was invited to study with the Bolshoi Ballet at a three-week summer intensive in Hartford, Connecticut. Over those three weeks, I learned so much! I was taught a different style of ballet and I made many new friends along the way. This winter I look forward to performing in “The Nutcracker” and I am learning five parts in this production.

If my mother had not put me in these classes, I would not have met so many people, made my very close friends and have had all these amazing opportunities. I am so thankful that Stanley Clark and Southold Dance Company decided to start an after school ballet class. Without that class, I may not be where I am today.