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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 danced with RIbt through high school and then went to St. Olaf College in Minnesota where I double majored in Dance and English. After graduating, I took a couple of years off from dancing to teach English in Korea. I now live in Washington, D.C. where I am a dancer in Jane Franklin Dance, a modern dance company based in Arlington, VA. With the company, I've been able to perform at many venues including the Kennedy Center in DC and the Charlotte Dance Festival in North Carolina. This year, I will be developing choreography for Next Reflex Dance Collective, a new modern dance company based in Fairfax, VA. I will also be performing with BosmaDance in collaboration with the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra. In addition, I teach ballet, modern dance, and creative movement classes at several locations in the DC metro area.

What is your fondest memory of RIBT?

I loved many of the ballets we performed: "The Debut", "Here, There, Everywhere", "Saltimbanco", "Tarantella", "Witches of Eastwick". I enjoyed the variety and creativity of the ballets we performed.

Another great memory I have is of going to the New England Dance Expo. It was great to take master classes and bond with my fellow dancers.

What are some of the lessons you learned from the RIBT experience?

Dancing with RIBT gave me very valuable performance experience. Transforming the technique you learn in class into something interesting to watch onstage takes practice. RIbt definitely helped me develop my stage presence and performance quality.

Do you have any advice for the young dancers at RIBT today?

Enjoy yourself! And work hard! Having a goal and pursuing it wholeheartedly can produce unexpected results. I am still continually trying to grow as a dancer. I think it also helps to watch other dancers who you look up to. Instead of being competitive with your fellow dancers, study the dancers you admire and try to emulate them. That will help you to improve your own dancing.

Thank you to Nancy to all of your hard work teaching and developing RIbt. I really feel like I wouldn't be where I am today without RIbt, so I'm very grateful. And thanks for getting back in touch!