As she puts on her new jazz shoes and ties her hair in a perfect ballerina bun, junior Drew Davis prepares for her first dance class of the week. Whether she is rehearsing pirouette turns or perfecting her newest choreography in the studio, there is nothing else in the world she would rather do.
For 13 years, Davis’ life has revolved around endless hours of dance rehearsals, recitals and competitions. She belongs to Carousel Dance Company, where she dances 23 hours a week. Spending the majority of her time rehearsing choreography can be daunting, especially with all of the work that comes with being a high school student. However, Davis believes the treacherous work will be beneficial in the long run.
“Dance is the main thing in my life that makes me genuinely happy, and I can’t imagine my life without it,” said Davis. “I am truly blessed to have discovered my calling and to be able to dance everyday.”
Davis performs ballet, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary and modern dance. Although she has a love for every style of dance, jazz is her personal favorite. While performing jazz routines, Davis feels she is able to connect to the piece on a higher level because she is dancing with other people. Davis feeds off the group’s energy, ultimately improving her overall performance and dancing ability.
“When I dance, I feel free,” said Davis. “Whether I am dancing alone or with a group of people, dance is the only thing that helps me express what I am feeling when words can’t.”
Whether she is performing onstage or simply rehearsing in her room, Davis is inspired by Mitzi Gaynor, a trained ballerina who also danced in musicals. Gaynor’s accomplishments motivate Davis to grow as a dancer. As well as being inspired by Gaynor, Davis finds she always learns new things from her friends and instructors that help her improve each day.
“One of the reasons I love dance is because it has helped me connect with so many amazing, inspirational people that are as passionate about dance as I am,” said Davis.
Davis has competed in multiple dance competitions and has danced in countless performances over the past 13 years. Each time she hears the roar of the audience, she falls in love with dance all over again. When Davis is dancing, she truly feels at one with herself and is able to free her mind from the stress that come with being a teenager.
Davis has been able to discover many things about herself through dance. She has found how highly competitive she is and has had to realize that although she would like to win every competition, the only way she can truly be a winner is to try her absolute best. Davis finds that she is always improving and achieving things she never deemed possible when she first started dancing. She is whole-heartedly dedicated to the art of dance and gives everything she has on the dance floor each time she performs.
“Drew is always full of energy and ready to try something new,” said junior Leanna Pilosof, who dances with Davis at Carousel. “She has progressed so much since I met her.”
With support from family and friends, Davis plans to continue dance in the future and to major in dance in college. She hopes to attend an East Coast school so she can be closer to New York, where she hopes she will someday achieve her lifelong dream of dancing on Broadway. She also hopes to dance on tour with pop artists or in commercials. Davis will always show off her best tilt and jazz turns at any given opportunity to ensure her dreams of becoming a professional dancer come true. She eagerly awaits the day that all of her endless hours of rehearsing choreography and learning new techniques pay off. Until then, she will continue appreciating the many opportunities already given to her and will continue dancing every day.
