Choreography means the world to me, I think it’s so important to share ideas and hopes. For people to listen to them and perform your visions perfectly is the best feeling. Every choreographed piece I have been in has been so fun and creative, even if it’s about the end of the world or about the famous movie Grease, every dance has a little touch of personality and feeling mixed into it and that’s what's so special. I personally haven’t choreographed a big piece but I cannot wait for that day to come. I have had so many inspirations around me and people who help me grow, so hopefully that process will be easy. I plan on making beautiful pieces I can and will call my own, and to show my creativity and art through those pieces. Art is the best part of dance, to create and show.

I was having trouble coming up with a word for the photoshoot. I could not think of many words that described me. I decided on the word sharp for a few different reasons. In dances I choreograph, I tend to go with sharper, quicker movements that have straight or bended arms, usually not super flowy. People around me have told me I'm sharp-witted, especially as a student. When people say that, it makes me feel happy and proud of myself. That’s why I chose that word.

I chose the word glamorous because it best shows the spirit of dancing and choreography. I think that it shows how anything goes with choreography and it can be however you want it to be. It’s also very energetic and free which fits with how dancing makes me feel. Lastly, it demonstrates how I personally feel about dancing in that it’s a way to be bold and share with others.

I’ve loved being in dance company for the last three years. It's taken me a long way in dance and I will continue to carry those memories with me. I've loved the experience since I auditioned in 6th grade and I'm going to miss being a part of one of the most amazing dance groups.

Hello! I’m Ruby, and this is my dance journey :) I started dancing when I was 4 and did ballet and tap. As a child, I never really appreciated dance and what I would learn from it, but as I got older I admired dance every second of the way. Later in my life, I did new styles like Jazz, Modern, and Hip-Hop. Hip-Hop was always my favorite and I guess it just made me feel safe, like I could be myself. You could call Hip-Hop my comfort dance. I was never afraid to be myself and add my personality to the dance, which made me really enjoy the moments I was able to take and actively participate in Hip-Hop!!!

I have been dancing on and off since I was very little. I started dancing at a small studio called Village Dance. I mostly did ballet but I did a little bit of jazz and tap as well. I always liked taking dance there but it was a very small studio so I knew I wouldn't last there very long.

I’ve loved dancing since I was five years old when I started taking classes at the Richmond Ballet. Since then, I’ve kept up my dance training and it has become a huge part of my life! Most of my journey has been spent on ballet, but I also went through the Minds in Motion (MIM) program which helped me develop modern, tap, character, and theater dance skills. While learning more about those techniques through MIM, I was also taking weekly tap, theater, and of course ballet classes with the Richmond Ballet to really help advance my knowledge of those styles! Now, I dance for about seven hours every week at my studio taking ballet and modern classes.

I chose the word bloom because just like how a flower starts from a seed, and works its way into a bud and begins to blossom, I’ve been taking dance classes for years, yet somehow this is only the beginning. Dance has helped me to bloom and grow, and I’m excited to take everything that I have experienced and learned through the duration of my life with me to Appomattox Regional Governor’s School for the Arts and Technology, where I will continue to study dance.

My name is Ray and ever since I was little dancing has been a passion of mine. When I started dancing, I was a very shy person and didn’t express myself. Growing up I didn’t always dance. I did modeling, pageants, and karate but dance was always something I looked forward to doing. When I started middle school my love for dance faded. It didn’t feel the same anymore. Having that mental break during quarantine really helped me find who I really was. At the end of 2020 I started taking dance classes again at a new studio called Grace Arts and it made my passion spark.

I saw The Nutcracker when I was 3 years old and as soon as the curtain went up, I was hooked. I was barely able to walk but somehow I could tell that dance was something I’d enjoy throughout my life. I joined a studio shortly after that and became even more interested in performing and learning about dance. When I was six, I auditioned for The Nutcracker and miraculously got in. The joy of performing onstage was exhilarating and I couldn’t wait to do it again the next year.

Miranda 6th grade

My dance journey has been a really good time for me because I started dancing when I began going to Binford Middle School. I was really nervous to meet new people at first but then I started getting used to it because I had to, but it really wasn't that bad at the end of it. Dance and choreography means alot to me because I feel powerful when I dance and it gets me really excited. Sometimes it’s confusing to learn a new dance but I know I can do it. Dance really helps me to stay calm.

My name is Ama and I started getting into dance this year, but I always loved to dance and always had a passion for it. To me dance is a way you can express yourself or your emotions. Dance has always been a part of me since I was little and I will never stop loving dance. For this photo shoot I chose the word marvelous because it means extremely good or extraordinary and I’d like to think I am that. I have always been told that I was a star and it's ironic because my middle name is star too. I have always been told I was talented and had something special in me. If someone told me I would have been doing this a few years ago, I would’ve never believed you. Marvelous means to cause great things and I want to cause great things too. I would love people to say that I am a marvelous dancer and I am happy that my dancing is starting at Binford. Marvelous means a lot of different things but all of them have positive and encouraging meanings which is great because no one would want to describe their dancing as something negative, especially not me. I am so proud that I am in this amazing company and having such a marvelous time.

Now, one of my biggest goals in life is to make people feel heard and to help others voice their feelings. I want people to know that I care for them and want everyone to feel like they have someone to talk to when they need anything! I’ve learned that being empathetic is a very important skill to have in life and I always want people to share their opinions and feelings with no shame! And that is my dance story!

I have gotten to try different things like formations and group/partner work. For me dance is something that I can get my energy out with but also it's a way to express myself and my emotions. I chose the word dramatic because, well, I am very dramatic. The way I dance is also quite dramatic. I like to put lots of emotion and facial expressions into my dances. I am so grateful to get to be in Dance Company!

My dance journey started when I was three years old. I was in a ballet class and loved it! I remember always being excited to go. Skip ahead a few years to fourth grade. That's when I got introduced to Minds In Motion. I looked forward to those Thursdays before specials where we got to learn new moves and dance.

The word that I used to describe myself was Sparkle. I chose that word because I thought that it was a good word to describe my personality. I have been told I’m very outgoing and unique just like glitter! Plus who doesn’t love glitter!

Sierra 8th grade

Optimism in Dance

Dance brings me joy;

soaring leap

confident style

No matter the circumstances of the day;

hopeful stance

promising pose

I can express myself ;

positive movement

upbeat music

And always end on an optimistic note;

bright silhouette

daring pirouette

I am so grateful for Binford Dance Company;

loving family

caring friends

I started dancing at the age of 12 with Ms. Perkinson. Before then I had been doing a few dance related things but nothing consistent. The first class I took was when I was about three. The class consisted of jumping around in leotards and moving however we wanted to in the moment, improvising. The next class I took was with Minds In Motion with the Richmond Ballet. They came to our school when I was in fourth grade, taught us a dance over the span of many months, and then we performed it for our family and friends. This was my first time performing dance and I loved it. I loved it so much that I took a Minds In Motion summer camp that summer.

I have been a part of Binford’s Dance Company since the 6th grade. Dance has changed and inspired me over the past three years. I have created life long friendships and had amazing experiences at Binford and with the Dance Company. Dance taught me to get out of my comfort zone and explore new opportunities.

Hi there, my name is Iana. I'm in 8th grade and I've been dancing ever since I can remember. Dating back to some of the earliest years of my life, I've only been dancing. Now some may say, “That seems so repetitive!” Or a common question is, “Do you ever get tired of dancing?” My simple answer is no. I've tried other sports like soccer, track, and basketball. No other sport has had my complete dedication or peaked my interest like dance has.