Dance gives me a lot of confidence and it’s a beautiful art form. I have loved to dance ever since I was 1. I always liked dancing and moving in different ways. I would often enjoy looking at others dance. For a while I liked ballet the most because of the smooth and glorious movements. I took many classes on various dance genres. I feel like more people, especially kids, should do dance because it's a way you can express yourself without having to speak. Dance is for everyone who enjoys it. Dance is a big part of my life and it means alot to be able to dance with the Binford Dance Company.

Dance can mean so many things, but to me it is a way to create feeling in emotion with my body while others can feel that energy and emotion from the movement and music. Anyone can dance, they just need to find a reason to. (Or not technically, you don’t need a reason to dance!)

My relationship with dancing had always been a beautiful thing. Going to my dance studio had always been something I looked forward to and enjoyed. Unfortunately, in the past couple of months, a lot has changed in my viewpoint towards dancing. 

I have been in Binford Dance Company for 3 years. I have had so many amazing opportunities because of it and I have met new people. I have gone to new places, and most importantly, I have gotten amazing experiences. This year I auditioned for Appomattox Regional Governor's School for the Arts and Technology or (ARGS). I did not have a lot of confidence in getting in. I doubted myself and my abilities. I worked for hours on my solo, perfecting it. I wanted it to be perfect so I had my best chance of getting in. When I found out I got in I started crying because I was so relieved to know that I had a good option for a high school I could go to. I had another option of a high school I could go to and I was not sure which high school I wanted to attend. The other option was a less risky choice, I knew more people there and it was just a normal school. I was scared to go to Appomattox because I wasn't sure if I would belong there, if I was good enough to go there. In the end I followed my heart and chose to go to Appomattox. Now for the next 4 years, I will be dancing at school every day. I have really enjoyed my experience in Binford Dance Company and I can't wait to continue my dance journey at Appomattox. 

My dance journey was complicated but it was an amazing experience! Dance allows me to revive and express my feelings. I feel like dance is something that you would do to relieve all of the stress you have. But I mostly do dance because it's just fun and is a hobby of mine. 

The Merriam-Webster definition of dance is “to move one's body rhythmically, usually to music; to engage in or perform a dance,” but to me, dance is so much more. To me, it means being around people who lift me up. It means being able to have an outlet for my feelings. It means becoming the best possible version of myself. But most of all, it means having the safety of escaping the real world and returning feeling unstoppable.

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!