The lights shine bright onto the football field during a chilling fall evening. Eva runs out to the middle field for the dance team’s halftime performance. Filled with anticipation and adrenaline, she takes a deep breath and prepares to do what she does best: perform.
Eva started her dance career when she was only three years old. She began dancing at Brekke Dance Center and has been there for 14 years, but her family has been a part of the studio for 22 years. During her childhood, Eva remembers always being at the studio and feels like she lived there. This upbringing kick-started a strong passion for dancing that has carried into her teenage years. Eva’s favorite style of dance is either contemporary or sassy jazz.
Eva has been a part of the Dowling Catholic Dance Team since her freshman year. Her favorite part of game days is team dinner because she enjoys eating good food and getting to spend quality time with her team while getting ready. Her favorite dance team memory is a sleepover the senior girls had over the summer. She fondly remembers her teammates and her bowling, eating pizza and cookie cake, and staying up so late they all missed their alarms the next morning.
Through her experience on the dance team, Eva had learned many lessons. She’s learned the importance of coming to practice prepared by not procrastinating to learn dances the night before. If Eva could go back and give her freshman year self advice, it would be to “not stress so much, it’s never that serious and everything always turns out fine”. Eva’s positive outlook on life has been shaped by the loving people in her life. Eva looks up to her two older sisters, one of whom is a professional dancer, who are always there to give her motivating advice. She also receives support from one of her best friends, Juliana, who is a great listener and helps calm her down if she is feeling overwhelmed. Eva also looks up to her dance team coach and teacher, Courtney, who always pushes her to do her best dancing, even if she does not want to.
After high school, Eva hopes to continue dancing by possibly double-majoring in criminal law and dance. But, as she leaves her dance community at home, she will miss all the people and her friends, and even the little girls at her studio. When asked to give any piece of advice, Eva said,” to be friends with everyone”, and to “be nice”.
