Autobiography

When I was two years old, my mom put me in dance classes at Lehman’s School of Dance. Two year olds took ballet. Even though kids attention spans were short, I wasn’t off task once. I haven’t stopped dancing since.

By the time I was 14, I had numerous years of experience in ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical. But it was then that I was introduced to hip-hop. I began hip-hop at Urban Beat Dance (UBD). I made their highest-level company, Elite. I had to choose between this and Lehman’s; I chose to dance with UBD. This was so new to my eyes, that I couldn’t get enough of it. We performed in countless shows and competed several times. I was in this company for 3 years before I had a chance to step it up a notch.

Before I left Elite, I was offered a teaching job there. I was 15 years old, and got paid $25 an hour. I taught ballet, jazz, and kids hip-hop. Being able to teach and share my passion with those interested in dance was the greatest feeling ever. I still teach there today. Even though I am not in Elite, I still can’t seem to stay away from UBD.

By the time I was 16 years old, I was ready to take hip-hop to the next level. It was in January of my junior year, and I tried out for the professional hip-hop company CODA, where everyone is either 21 or older. I auditioned for the experience, but I ended up making it! In CODA I performed in big shows, and competed in a Hip-Hop International Competition, known as Worlds. There are about 15 people in the company, and 8 of which are girls. For Worlds, which was the summer before my senior year, CODA decided to take all girls to Vegas. There’s a maximum of 8 dancers that can perform. But they chose 6 girls and I was one of them! We performed and got 6^th in USA Finals! I love CODA. They’re like my family.

At the end of summer when I turned 17, I began break dancing. It’s such an exhilarating challenge, that I can’t stay away from it either. I’ve met so many cool breakers. They aren’t just people I break with, they are people who are close to my heart.