The Piedmont Highlander

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The Piedmont Highlander

The Piedmont Highlander

Ballerinas balance schedules

Ballerinas balance schedules

ballet shoesThe curtains open and soft music begins. Rond de jambe, chassé, sauté, chaînés, the song comes to an end, curtsy.

Students in Piedmont fit ballet into their extracurricular lives.

Senior Hannah Watry says she has been dancing since the end of sixth grade at the Oakland Ballet Academy.

“[I] dropped in for one class to give it a try and never thought about not going back,” Watry said.

Freshman Laine Ratzer and her sister junior Lauren Ratzer said that they both began dancing when they were two years old at the California Academy of Performing Arts. They dance jazz, tap, contemporary, hip hop and ballet.

“[Dance] is a way to escape to my own little world where nothing can go wrong,” Laine said.

Lauren likes dancing as well.

“I have been doing it for so long. It’s now a huge part of my life,” Lauren said.

Laine and Lauren dance together.

“It is so much fun dancing with my sister,” Laine said. “We can always find something to laugh about together.”

Lauren said that she feels the same about her sister.

“This is my first year dancing with her, but I love it because she is hilarious, always keeps us entertained, and always has my back,” Lauren said.

Laine said she has learned to balance her time while dancing and playing other sports.

“I went from two hour lacrosse practice to a two and a half hour dance class,” Laine said. “It was a little tiring.”

Senior Elise Lasky said she has been doing ballet since she was three.

“I currently dance at Oberlin Dance Company,” Lasky said. “I am dancing in an honors arts program at Trinity College in Connecticut next year.”

Lasky said that she does other types of dancing besides ballet.

“I have taken contemporary classes and I also like to go to Hipline with my friends every once in a while,” Lasky said.

Lasky said she likes dance because it is a way to express herself.

“It is two hours out of my day when I can just not worry about anything,” Lasky said. “I get lost in the movement and music.”

Lasky said that it can sometimes be difficult to balance shool, ASB and ballet.

“Ultimately, ballet is a place for me to re-energize for the rest of the day. I am most productive when I fit in a ballet class,” Lasky said.

Senior Ailey Simpson said that dance class is a great way to relieve her stress too.

“In class I can let go of whatever is going on and just dance,” Simpson said.

Simpson said that she has been doing ballet for 12 years. She dances at the Piedmont Ballet Academy and with the PHS dance department.

“[The Piedmont Ballet Academy] has a nutcracker performance and an end of the year recital, but most of my dancing is done with the PHS program,” Simpson said.

Simpson said that although she does ballet she enjoys contemporary and modern dance the most.

“I have choreographed a bunch of contemporary dances throughout high school,” Simpson said. “I have also been exposed to a lot of styles like break dancing, jazz, and ballroom with the school dance department.”

Simpson said that she likes the challenge that dancing brings.

“I love the artistic and athletic challenge. Dance is very energizing and fun,” Simpson said.

 

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