Seniors dance out of their final year

By Lila Cohen, Social Media Editor

Every year there comes time for the graduating class to say the bittersweet goodbyes that come with moving on from high school. Many of this year’s seniors are preparing to say farewell to their teachers, peers, friends, and family. Senior dancers additionally have to goodbye to a studio and community that most of them have been a part of for over a decade.

All the dancers unanimously agree that dance has been incredibly impactful on their lives. They have spent the better part of their lives in and around the studio, growing up beside their fellow dancers and learning from their mentors and dance instructors.

“[Dance has] had a really big impact [on my life]. It’s been a community that I’ve been a part of basically my whole life, [really] all that I can remember. And it’s always been a place that I can go and leave everything else― the drama [and] stress of daily life behind, and just let go and dance.” senior Sienna Stromberg said. “My dance teacher, Vanessa, would always tell us that when you walk into the dance studio you leave everything else at the door, and once you’re there, you’re focused on dance. That’s been really great for me over the years.”

Senior Lyla Mildon felt similarly, noting how the studio becomes an escape and the shared experience of movement builds a tight-knit community.

“[The dance studio is] the one place that I can really express myself in a way that I know that I’ll be understood by the people around me because everyone else is there to the exact same thing I am: to really just let go of the troubles of the day.”

Years of dance teach many important life lessons, including everything from confidence to perseverance to creativity.

“[Dance] has a lot of confidence-boosting [aspects]. [It] promote[s] positivity and self-love. I also think it teaches persistence, and the ability to continue to do something that is hard and sometimes painful but also able to push through. That carries over into the rest of life,” senior Penelope Boyes said.

Most senior dancers plan to continue dancing, either recreationally or professionally. After spending thousands of hours in the studio, they are not ready to say goodbye to the sport just yet. For these seniors, dance is a true passion.

“Dance is my greatest love. There is truly nothing that exists in this world that I love so unconditionally. As a result, it brings me nothing but happiness; it’s my therapy, my best friend, and my purpose in life. Without it, I wouldn’t know what it feels like to be truly passionate about something,” senior Mia Kuzma said.