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What have you been up to since RIBT? Please let us know what you are pursuing now. Are you still dancing?

I just finished my sophomore year at The George Washington University in DC, where I am majoring in Political Communication and minoring in Journalism. I am a tour guide for the University, interned in the Executive Office of the President for the past academic year, and am extremely involved in Balance: The GW Ballet Group.

Balance is an entirely student-run organization that offers classes from the beginner to the advanced level, produces an annual Nutcracker and spring show for sold out audiences, and sponsors trips to the Kennedy Center to see visiting ballet companies. Balance is my new RIbt. I auditioned and was cast as the Dew Drop Fairy in the Nutcracker during my freshman year. This past year, I was cast as the Sugar Plum Fairy and performed the full Balanchine pas de deux. It was the most challenging performance of my life- think flying shoulder sits- and I can honestly say that I had stage fright. I co-produced the spring show last semester and have an entirely new appreciation for Artistic Directors. The spring show had a cast of 60 dancers and featured 25 pieces of student choreography. I danced in five pieces, choreographed one, and was responsible for everything from the audition and casting process to making the weekly rehearsal schedule, drafting the programs, and advertising the show. I occasionally teach classes for Balance and I am the Public Relations Director on the organization’s Executive Board for 2008-2009.

Additionally, I proposed a ballet-themed “living and learning cohort” (LLC) for the 2008-2009 academic year. An LLC is an exclusive and competitive living option at GW in which students live together to further academic goals. Five friends and I- all dancers- beat out many other proposals and were granted housing in a town house for next year with our proposed LLC “To the Pointe.” We plan to teach ballet in a public elementary school in the Howard-Shaw neighborhood of DC, sponsor ballet movie and healthy eating nights at the house, and host dance clothing drives for a ballet school in Rio de Janeiro where a Balance alumna now works. GW has given us a budget to accomplish these goals and is even considering converting our house’s basement into an in-home dance studio.

What is your fondest memory of RIBT?

Growing up. I went from the very youngest member to the very oldest and only remaining founding member. I had amazing role models and then I got to be the role model. I had the corps de ballet roles and then the leading roles. Of course I loved the photo shoots, the premiers, and the cast parties, but looking back now, it is the progress I made and the growing I did that means the most to me.

Anything else you would like to add?

I just wish I could give them some perspective- like, Hey! I made it through. I went to my proms and a couple of football games, but I sacrificed quite a few mixers and parties to be at rehearsal. And I think I’m better for it. Those things seem so important at the time, but even just two years down the road, I shrug my shoulders at them. Life before college kind of gets erased once you get there and nobody cares whether or not you partied hard every Friday night. In fact, you get more respect for saying that you dedicated your time to something and succeeded at it. Some things are more important in the long run and I don’t regret any of my Friday nights in the ballet studio.