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: Sharini Rao
Sharini’s Dance Bio
Sharini has been a dancer since she was just two years old – her first performance was as a flower in a ballet production of “Beauty and the Beast”. Growing up, Sharini focused her training on classical ballet technique and performance. Right before the pandemic changed everything in 2020, Sharini and her family moved to Marion. Before she was able to find a new dance home in Iowa, everything shut down. The pandemic caused an unplanned pause in Sharini’s dance training. Preparing for her senior year, Sharini was determined to get back to dancing, and to try and accomplish a lifelong goal: to earn her pointe shoes and begin pointe training. With lots of hard work and some special guidance from ballet instructors at The Pointe, Sharini will perform in ballet classes and Beginning Pointe at her senior recital this year.
“Sharini’s story is a perfect example of the way every dancer’s path and journey is so unique and individual. I knew from the first time I met her that she was a dedicated student, always coachable and ready to learn, and determined to do whatever it takes to reach her goals. I’m so glad she found our program for her senior season. Her return to dance has been inspiring to be a part of. I am so proud of her – and so glad she found The Pointe for her senior year!”
– Miss Vanessa
In Her Own Words…
1. How long have you been dancing?
I’ve been dancing since age 2, being a flower in beauty and the beast and Tea cups ballet to “Getting to know you” ballet. Tapping my way to “Twist and Shout”. A yellow bird in the rhythm of the rain forest, to a villager in Alice in Wonderland. From sugar plum fairy to an ice skater in the four seasons show. Being in show choir at LMHS for an year and starting on Pointe at The Pointe at last.
2. What is your favorite dance that you have performed?
“Alice in Wonderland.”
3. Favorite dance memory?
Dancing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker.
4. Favorite genre of dance?
Ballet, because of the graceful moments.
5. Finish this sentence: I love dancing because…
It is a fun creative outlet and I get to meet new people.
6. What are you looking forward to the most in finishing out your senior year in dance?
Dancing en pointe for the first time!
7. Plans after High School?
Attend a four-year university.
8. Advice for younger dancers?
Keep dancing. Don’t let anything hold you back.