The curtain rises and the audience falls silent as sophomore ballerina Rachel Lipstone moves across the stage in The Nutcracker’s “Dew Drop Fairy.” Her nerves gradually subside as her body becomes a powerful force of its own. For Lipstone, ballet is not just a classical art form but a way of life.

“[Dance] is an art, a sport, a lifestyle and a passion all in one,” said Lipstone. “It is classical and pure. I feel like if I can do ballet, I can do anything.”

Since the age of three, Lipstone has been drawn to the beauty and grace of ballet. She was able to immerse herself in the elegant art form when she joined the Ciara Dance studio. There, she learned The Nutcracker and took private lessons with Russian dancer Nadya Koscuik for a year and a half. Inspired by professional dancers such as Natalia Osipova and Maria Kochetkova, Lipstone works diligently in ballet to achieve success on stage.
“The feeling I get after I dance is worth all of the pain of constant practicing,” said Lipstone. “[Dancing] simply brings me happiness. It is the best way to clear my mind.”
Ballet is a way for Lipstone to not only express herself emotionally but also relieve her worries and stress. After a long day of school, she finds refuge in continuously practicing her ballet moves.
“There is always something more to learn and perfect,” said Lipstone. “It always keeps you on your ‘toes.’”
In the future, Lipstone hopes to attend the San Francisco Ballet school and perfect her talents. She participates in the school’s summer program and takes five week classes to sharpen her ballet techniques including pointe, pas de deux and batterie.  Lipstone admires the school’s impressive facilities and multicultural atmosphere for dancers.
Although Lipstone dances in many performances and recitals, her dream is to portray Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, a popular ballet originally choreographed by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev. She appreciates the originality of this performance because of its unconventional approach and emotionally expressive nature.
Lipstone’s performances embody the dialect of a language spoken through her body on stage. Evident through her many dances, ballet truly speaks to Lipstone and allows her to reach out to her audience in unparalleled volumes.