Senior Spotlight: Katarina
15 years Dancing at Sharon's Studio of Dance & Music
Dance has been a tremendous part of my life for as long as I can remember. As a little girl, my grandma brought me to dance class every Saturday. I twirled around the classroom in a pink leotard, and I began to learn the basic ballet terminology that would carry me through my career as a dancer. Recitals were exciting; I loved getting dressed up in dazzling costumes and showing off the skills I had worked on all year. As I got older, I tried out other activities along with dance, but no other sport provided me with the same passion and interest as dance did. When I dance, I forget about the stresses that cause my body to be tense and the anxieties that cloud my mind. Even as an elementary school student, I knew that dance was special. It has always been, and will continue to be, a part of who I am.
I craved more ways to express myself through dancing, so I joined the performing group and eventually the competition team at age eleven. Being a member of the competition team for eight years has pushed me to my limits mentally and physically, but I would not have wanted it any other way. My teachers have provided me with a valuable knowledge of technique, and more importantly, a vault of lessons that I will carry through life. As I took Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Modern classes, I learned more about how my body moves and how to fully express my emotions. Even when I felt limited by my flexibility, my teachers saw my greatest potential and never ceased to push me to my absolute best.
It is surreal to be a graduating senior; my first recital felt like yesterday! But, countless performances later, I am a strong, determined, and motivated person and dancer. I cannot thank all of my teachers enough for this incredible experience that I will never forget. Thank you to my grade 2-3 class for brightening every Monday, my dance friends for always being there for me inside and outside the studio, and my family for continuously supporting my journey. I am sad to be leaving Sharon’s- the studio is like my second home, and those mirrored pink rooms hold so many memories that I will always hold close to my heart. I am thankful and excited to be studying Biology at the University of Connecticut in the fall.
Good luck at University of Connecticut, Katarina!