Guest columnist: Christina Larson - dance student balances training with time for school and friends - Brief Article - Column

Dance Magazine, Dec, 2003 by Christina Larson

I can't really put into words specifically why I love to dance. I am not the best in my class, so I don't do it because I am the best. It does not always make me feet good physically--pains and blisters from pointe class are not something I would endure if I did not like to dance. But, I do love to dance.

I take one modern and four ballet classes per week, plus I have rehearsals for Nutcracker and spring performances. I love adagio work even though it takes a lot of control, more than jumps and turns. I think it's more my pace. Mostly, I like dance because I like the state of mind it puts me in and the way it looks when dancers move.

Because of my busy dancing and homework schedule, I see my friends mostly during lunch, and in those few precious weekend hours that I have free. In school, although my goal is to get projects done before deadline, they usually get to the teacher just in time.

So, it's a challenge to juggle school, dance, and friends, but somehow I get by with almost no late assignments, and a few weekend chick flicks with mon amies!