Through the glass window of her older sister’s dance studio, Noelle Lee (12) spent her childhood watching her sister dance in awe. At a young age, Lee found her inspiration in dance.
“I always knew that was what I wanted to do,” Lee said. “I waited and watched until I turned 2 years old, and I was able to start dancing myself.”
Now, Lee is on the TPDT varsity contemporary and hip hop teams. She is also part of the competitive company conservatory program for her dance studio, Inspired Movement, and trains for three to six hours daily.
“I like jazz and hip hop the most out of the styles I train in,” Lee said. “I think I am drawn to the faster-paced music, and the ability to show more personality when I perform.”
Fueled by passion and perseverance, Lee’s rigorous dance training requires her to be “very disciplined” in order to maintain high academic standards. The hard work Lee dedicates to dance has helped her develop diligence.
“Dance has given me the ability to focus on a skill or sport, which has led to having grit and the [ability] to manage my time and keep up with academics,” Lee said.
While it is difficult to balance school and dance, Lee sees dance as a way to de-stress from her school work.
“Dance allows for an allocated time to spend with my friends and a perfect break from school responsibilities,” Lee said. “It provides a nice balance with academics.”
Lee values the friendships she formed through dance and “working towards a common goal” with other dancers. When it comes time to perform with her friends, Lee finds gratification in “sharing something [they] all have spent so much hard work and hours on.”
“I always love when our team travels to other states, especially national competitions when our year-long dedication plays out on stage and we are rewarded for our hard work,” Lee said.
Lee sees a future where dance continues to be an important part of her identity. She plans to take dance further and continue pursuing new goals during college.
“I hope to be dancing in college at some level,” Lee said. “I would love to be dancing on a collegiate team or dance club. I can’t imagine my life without dance in some capacity.”
Reflecting on her dance journey so far, Lee encourages other dancers to embrace every experience.
“Don’t let the failures in dance set you back,” Lee said. “Try and enjoy the moment at every stage.”
