Who in your dance life are you most grateful for?
The person I am most grateful for in my dance life would have to be Cheryl Copeland.
Cheryl has had such a huge impact on my life that even though I started dancing when I was six, I believe I didn't start training until I met her when I was thirteen.
The summer before ninth grade was a confusing and frustrating time in my life. I was contemplating quitting my dance training because my most recent experiences in studio training left me doubting my abilities and love for dance. My mom would not let me give up my passion for dance that easily and asked me to take a few privates with Cheryl before making such a big decision. In these privates we focused on modern dance which was a dance style I had no previous exposure to. I was immediately attracted to the strength and beauty of the form and that combined with Cheryl’s passion and belief in my abilities gave me the drive to continue forward with my dance training. Taking privates from Cheryl that summer was pivotal in the course of my life because if it wasn’t for her, I probably wouldn’t be dancing today let alone going to school for a BFA in dance performance. What I loved about the way she taught was she demanded a lot and pushed us dancers to be the best we could be. She not only pushed us to be the great technicians but great artists. We trained intensely dancing five days out of the week but within our training there was always an emphasis on creativity and expression, something that separates a great dancer from a great artist.
The rigorous training made my transition to college easy as I was used to working hard and being treated like a professional. She not only sparked my love for dance but my love for teaching because I realized the positive impact she made on mine and my fellow dancers lives and that is exactly what I hope to do for my future students. I have had lots of dance teachers but Cheryl has had such a significant impact on my life that I strongly believe I wouldn't be the dancer/person I am today if it wasn't for her. I owe a lot of what I know to her and am eternally thankful for all that she has done for me.
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