All over the world, dance shines as a way to express feelings, stories, and art; at Hackley School, we have many talented, young dancers. Sophomore Jessie Paridis dances all the time, and gets to show Blythdale kids how much she enjoys it. Senior Katie Ippolito dances competitively, and has won many awards. Freshman Morgan Zepf said that dancing has shaped her like nothing else has, and could not imagine her life without it.

Jessie Paridis

Sophomore Jessie Paridis has been dancing for twelve years and said that she “could never imagine not dancing, even if it’s just a little bit.” Jessie participates in two shows per year, but individual shows every month at places like Blythedale Children’s Hospital and the Cottage School. Jessie said that the most fun thing about dance is dancing for the kids and inspiring them.

She dances around twelve hours a week, and sometimes is at the studio for fifteen hours. Jessie said, “Dance has become a serious part of who I am, but it takes up a lot of time so I don’t really get to play a sport or anything. But, I have made really good friends that I will keep for life.”

Jessie loves what she is doing right now, and plans to dance throughout college. She has worn some crazy costumes, participated in gorgeous and funny dances, and made great friends. Jessie dances at Dance Cavise in Mamaroneck, and participates in both group numbers with solos dispersed throughout the dance. Being a dancer is part of who Jessie is, and her love for dance emanates throughout her life. “I can’t actually pinpoint the moment I knew I loved dance, I just have loved it for as long as I can remember,” she said.

Katie Ippolito

Senior Katie Ippolito has been dancing for eleven years. Katie is incredibly talented, and her Senior Superlative is Best Dancer. She has switched studios five times, and in one year she went to three studios. Currently she attends Westchester Dance Academy, where she performs regularly in competitions. Her dances include many different aspects, and range from six to thirty people.

Katie competes in eight to ten competitions every year, and performs in three to four recitals every year. She dances Monday through Saturday, around three to four hours during the week and between two and five hours on Friday and Saturday. Katie said that it is a lot of time management, but that she has become accustomed to it over the years. “My favorite part of dance is having the hard work pay off.” Her hard work is certainly paying off, and in a competition in Boston she earned first for her solo to “This Place is a Shelter.”

Katie described her craziest costume as one designed to get her out of her troupe, or her comfort zone. She had to wear army pants and combat boots. It was not one of her favorite dances that year. “The hardest part of dance is accepting your flaws. No dancer is perfect and it is very easy to compare yourself to others. But I have learned that a lack of confidence will only stand in my way!”

Morgan Zepf

Freshman Morgan Zepf, new to Hackley this year, spends almost as much time dancing as she does at school. Last year, she spent 22 hours each week in class training, and this year she spends 18 hours.

Morgan has been dancing since she was two years old, but only started competing when she was seven. “The best part about dance is the freedom that it gives you. On my worst days, I always look forward to going to class, seeing my friends, and getting ready to work my hardest, just lose myself in the songs and movements and dance it all the way,” she said.

Morgan competes in six competitions between February and April: in group, duo, and solo numbers. She has been in a total of nine dances, and says that her favorite dance was called “Two Birds.”

Although dance takes up a lot of her time, Morgan says, “I don’t think that I could be as happy of a person as I am without dance. Also, it’s given me a work ethic and persistence, because nothing in dance comes without a little bit of sweat and pain.”

Morgan currently dances at Breaking Ground Dance Center, and has danced there for the last nine years. She hopes to continue dancing in college either on a dance team, in a professional company, or on tour with an artist. “The hardest part and I think the most important, is the drive to want to succeed and improve, regardless of the obstacles that you face during a class or over long periods of time,” she said.