Ella Rick (10) is never home. She spends most of her day either at school or at dance. She is working on figuring out how she can balance both these things with having to finish her homework, making sure she knows all her dances and getting enough sleep.
“On a normal week, I spend about 18 hours at dance with studio and school combined. Some weeks I spend more when they schedule extra practices,” Rick said.
These hours are spent with both school dance, which is called Golden Girls, and she does studio dance. Because of all her time involved with dance, she has made many friends throughout this process
“I like Golden Girls more because of the friends on it, but I feel like I get more out of studio. I’m only at Golden Girls for like seven hours a week compared to being at studio for 11 hours a week,” Rick said.
Rick has been dancing for a very long time. She started dancing because of her sister.
“My older sister started dancing before me, and my parents put me in it. My mom also teaches part time at a dance studio,” Rick said.
Due to the dance season lasting most of the year, Rick never really gets a break, and balancing everything throughout the school year presents some challenges.
“Juggling dance and school is difficult sometimes, but I always end up getting everything done I need to do. I don’t always get enough sleep, but I always end up being okay,” Rick said.
Rick is spending all her time at dance so she can get prepared to send in her videos to college scouts. She plans to go to college for dance and she is starting the process now. During the fall, different colleges have clinics for coaches to see you. She has been going to Ole Miss almost every weekend for the coaches to see her.
“I plan to go to college for dance. I’m not sure which college yet. It depends on what dance team takes me. I have been looking into Ole Miss because my sister dances there,” Rick said.
Rick enjoys dance for many reasons, but some aspects of her hobby stand out more than others.
“I really enjoy being with my friends so often. I also love FNL during football season for Golden Girls,” Rick said. “Whenever we go to compete and get first place, I realize that all the practices were worth it.”
