For hours, the ballet students work to perfect their turns and jumps to make sure that there are no flaws in the routine. They work to put together a production to leave their audience in awe. The show has months of preparation behind it, but they would not complain.  They effortlessly and gracefully dance through the music, getting lost on stage and creating art for those who are watching.

“Performing is my favorite part of ballet,” senior Serena Press said. “You rehearse all the time but you only get to perform two to three times a year. It’s a rush of adrenaline. You know you are impacting people when you perform and that’s what dance is suppose to be. It’s suppose to be an art.”

Over the years their love for dance grew, until it became their passion.

“I have been dancing for 14 years,” senior May Mejia said. “I was always a really hyper kid, and ballet was a way for me to not just calm down, but find a balance within myself.”

To them nothing overpowers their love for dance. It is a way for them to leave behind their stressful lives and just focus on dancing.

“It really feels like home when I’m dancing now,” Mejia said. “It really feels like I’m supposed to be doing it. It feel so right, and it feels like I’m at ease.”

A normal week in a dance student’s life consists of classes and hours of practice in preparation of the show.

“For a ballet class we start at the barre and do plié and tendus because those are the most basic steps that everything is based on,” Press said. “Then we work up to bigger things, and then we move away from the bar and work on jumps and turns. We rehearse for the specific shows that we’re working on, such as the Nutcracker.”

Ballet teaches so many skills that can be used in the real world. It builds up a person and becomes a part of their identity.

“The confidence I gained is one of the most important things I’ve learned from ballet,” Mejia said. “You learn so much from dance, you learn yourself, you learn your limits, and you challenge yourself.”

Dance has been a part of their life ever since they can remember, and has been an important part of their life.

“I’ve enjoyed how much I have grown and matured,” Mejia said.  “It’s not just a hobby or something I do after school. It has molded me into the person I am today. Dance is something I’ll always hold on to and have in my life.”

Many people believe that ballet is the foundation for other dances. In order to pursue other styles of dancing most dancers start off training in ballet. While it plays a role in the dance world, it also has an influence in the theatre world as well.

“I’m really into theatre and musical theatre, so I took ballet to improve my skills and be a better performer,” senior Ryan Marsh said. “I plan on pursuing performing arts and I hope that ballet will be a part of that.”

Many students get to experience opportunities that they would never be able to without dance. It is a way for them to meet people.

“Dance has brought me to places I’ve never expected I would I go,” Press said. “I’ve met people from all around the country who share my passion that no one else would understand.”