It’s hard to believe that it’s time to start the countdown towards our graduating senior’s “lasts” – their graduations 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. We love celebrating our graduating seniors!
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: Kenzie Zeien
Kenzie’s Dance Bio
Kenzie has been dancing at The Pointe for 12 years! She has also been a member of Company, our competitive program, for four years. This year, you’ll see Kenzie in Advanced Ballet, Advanced Contemporary, and Advanced Jazz at recital – plus our Company production, two company groups, and her senior solo. Kenzie is also one of our amazing STEP Assistants, helping in classes with young dancers each week.
“Kenzie is a JOY to teach and coach. She is a student who is willing to rise to a challenge and try new things bravely. When she sets a goal, it’s a matter of “when” she’ll accomplish it – not “if”. Kenzie can work hard and have fun at the same time, looks out for new teammates or younger students, and is an asset to every routine and class she is a part of. Watching Kenzie grow up at the studio has been an absolute joy.”
– Miss Vanessa
In Her Own Words…
1. How long have you been dancing?
I’ve been dancing at The Pointe for 12 years and this is my 4th year competing!
2. What is your favorite dance that you have performed?
I think my favorite was “Vienna”, which was a contemporary company small group last year choreographed by Miss Laura!
3. Favorite dance memory?
My favorite dance memory is the rehearsals for the company group dance “Alice” last year because we all had so much fun in every rehearsal and became super close friends by the end of the season!
4. Favorite genre of dance?
My favorite genre of dance is probably lyrical because I use to only really focus on ballet and when I discovered lyrical I was able to take some of ballet and add other aspects of dance I didn’t know yet. I’ve been able to find musical connection through lyrical that I didn’t have before and learn how to not just do the choreography but perform it and tell a story.
5. Finish this sentence: I love dancing because…
I love dancing because it allows me to take a break from all of the stress of high school, color guard, and work and just focus on what I’m doing in the moment. It has given me an outlet for passion but also pushes me to do things I never thought I was capable of.
6. What are you looking forward to the most in finishing out your senior year in dance?
Making the best final memories with the people I love dancing with!
7. Plans after High School?
I am going to the University of Northern Iowa to major in Psychology and double minor in both Mental Health and Business!
8. Advice for younger dancers?
Always do your best and don’t give up.