It’s hard to believe that it’s time to start the countdown towards our graduating senior’s “lasts” – their graduation and final recital will be here before we know it. On the blog today: continuing this year’s Senior Features with a little bit more about the dancers you’ll see performing in the Senior Dance and a Senior Solo at recital. With so much uncertainty about what the rest of this school year will look like, we want to do what we can to help our graduating seniors know how loved and celebrated they are.
Senior Year at The Pointe
For many dancers, dancing all the way through their senior year is a big goal and a major accomplishment – many of our graduating seniors started dancing with us when they were in preschool! We are beyond grateful for the opportunity to be a part of their lives for so long and to get to watch them grow up into confident, thoughtful, and hard-working young adults.
Senior year is a special one – many of our seniors take classes and serve as Junior Faculty at The Pointe – assisting in classes with younger students and even helping with some competition practices over studio breaks. Seniors are all featured on canvases that we’ll print and put up later this fall in the hallway that will be graduation gifts for them showcasing their well-earned skill and artistry in dance.
You’ll see our seniors dance with Miss Vanessa in a group senior dance choreographed by the dancers at the recital, and each senior will have the opportunity to perform a solo of their choice. Giving these dancers an opportunity to showcase their performance skills and experiment with choreography is one of our favorite studio traditions.
Senior Feature: Carly Parkison
Carly’s Dance Bio
Carly has been dancing at The Pointe for just two years – but it feels like we’ve known her and her family for much, much longer! Carly came to the studio two years ago when her first studio was closing, and we knew instantly that she would fit right in with our studio and Company. It’s been such a great fit that we’re keeping Carly around – next year, she’ll teach a few classes of her own on Saturday mornings! Carly is a super hard worker, always putting in time outside of class to remember choreography and work on her skills. She encourages her classmates and teammates, cheering them on when they succeed and helping support them when they are down. Carly is the kind of friend everyone wants to have in their corner!
“Carly is an absolute joy to teach and coach. She is eager to learn and improve, accepts feedback with a smile, and cheers for those around her to succeed. Carly puts in the work outside of class to find success in class – stretching, remembering choreography, writing down corrections, and bringing smart questions back to class. I have been so lucky to work with her a little extra on her solos this year and love her enthusiasm for performing and improving! Carly makes a point to be sure her classmates and teammates know she is supporting them 100%. I’m so glad we’ll get to keep her around at the studio – she’ll be a great teacher!”
-Miss Vanessa
In Her Own Words…
1. How long have you been dancing?
I have been dancing for 15 years in many different genres including, Jazz, Lyrical, Musical Theater, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Ballet and some Tap. I am very excited to be a Teacher Assistant this year for some of the little ones!
2. What is your favorite dance that you have performed?
My favorite routine was “Rise”, a beautiful Lyrical routine choreographed by Miss Laura.
3. Favorite dance memory?
My favorite dance memory would have to be from last year’s competition season when our Jazz group to September received a PAC Attack callback from Precision Arts Challenge. We all started screaming and crying backstage, it was so exciting and rewarding! Another memory I have is just hanging out with friends during competitions, having fun, laughing, helping each other get ready and the love and support we give each other.
4. Favorite genre of dance?
My favorite genre of dance is Jazz. I love all the energy and sass that it brings!
5. Finish this sentence: I love dancing because…
I love dancing because I can express my emotions through music and movement and show my passion and feelings come to life. Also, all the friendships and memories that I have made!
6. What are you looking forward to the most in finishing out your senior year in dance?
I am looking forward to competing again, performing my solos on stage, and ending my senior year with a bang!
7. Plans after High School?
I’m currently working towards obtaining my CNA my senior year through Kirkwood and after High School finish up my General Education courses. I would like to continue my education through the University of Iowa and pursue a future in Nursing.
8. Advice for younger dancers?
My advice for young dancers is to always be prepared for class, work hard, do your best, smile and most important to have fun! When you learn to dance you will find that it teaches you much more than just how to dance, so much more!