Testimonials
These are our top 100 essay submissions for our 2014/2015 Essay Scholarship Contest that ran from July through November 2014. We absolutely loved reading all 1000 submissions this year and they were all well received.
Want to leave a testimonial? Email us at: [email protected]
Emma Marx
Do you know how to do the “Whine?” Coming from a small town in the Midwest neither did I. Then, last summer I attended the Joffrey West LA summer intensive and had the most amazing experience! I had the opportunity to take a variety of dance classes in everything from African dance to partnering, hip hop and contemporary ballet among many others. The level of knowledge and passion for dance each of my instructors had was nothing less then inspiring. They challenged me in ways I didn’t know were possible and I didn’t want to leave when my time was up. Like all the students who attend the Joffrey, I hope to become a professional dancer. I am confident this summer intensive experience where I worked on the fundamentals and gained a ton of exposure to many different styles of dance will help me make that dream a reality someday. I hope that I get the chance to return to this world premiere dance school in 2015!
Erin Nipps
Passion; any compelling emotion, such as love or hate. The Joffrey Ballet School gave me the opportunity to feel this through my dancing for the first time ever. Dancing in the Joffrey Ballet School summer program was something I dreamed of doing for many years. When I auditioned in New York City, I realized that dancing is really what I want to do for the rest of my life. Auditioning for something so big that I wanted so bad, made me work for it harder, dance bigger, and dream larger. Dancing at the Joffrey Ballet School felt like a dream. The whole experience blew me away. I’m still friends with dancers I met from all of the world! The different styles left a permanent mark on my soul and being. A teacher once said to me, “You guys are just a handful of dancers out of the millions that dream about dancing here, so act like you get it, dance like this is your last day to dance on earth, and give it your all”. That’s why the Joffrey Ballet School is the world premiere dance school in the country, delivering an experience of a lifetime that you’ll never forget.
Gianna Adams
Attending a Performing Arts Academy High School has increased my knowledge on many genres of dance. Opening my eyes to the diversity of the dance world created a drive to learn and practice more genres of dance. This lead me to The Joffrey Ballet School Summer Intensive. Being in the NYC environment last summer in the presence of choreographers and teachers such as Emily Buffet, Jeremy McQueen, and Michael Blake was an experience I will never forget. The ability to take class with the Joffrey Ballet School one of the best and take away knowledge from the advice given by some of the best of the best dancers and choreographers in the business is not something many people can say they had the chance to do. Having the dream of being a choreographer like the ones I took class from the advice I received has aided me to how I will pursue my dream. My time at the Joffrey has created memories I will have for life.
Grace Abbick
This past summer I attended Joffery Southwest Ballet for jazz and contemporary training. The artistic director, Miss Alice Alyse, believed that we should not be worried about what level we would be placed in, but instead how we could grow as individual dancers. I was lucky enough to be chosen for an additional piece in the performance at the end of the three week session. The piece was choreographed by Mr. Chris Coates and explained how people deal with falling in love for the first time. Dancing in his piece helped me understand that every time you're performing, you're telling a story full of emotion. Learning this lesson helped me become a better performer. I am so glad and thankful that I was able to be taught and learn so many valuable lessons from so many wonderful teachers. Attending the Joffrey Jazz and Contemporary intensive was one of the best decisions I have made. Based on the skills, lessons, and discipline I have experienced this summer, there is no doubt that the Joffrey Ballet School is world renowned. My goal for next summer is to attend the Joffrey West LA intensive. Hopefully this will be a privilege I will enjoy.
Hannah Bateman
For as long as I can remember dance has been the lens in which I process the world. I always work towards improving my dance. I want to be a little bit better each day than I was the day before. Dance is just who I am, and I would love any opportunity to develop my artistry more. I am very much aligned with the philosophy of the Joffrey Ballet School and would welcome the opportunity to train with such an amazing faculty. The Joffrey Ballet School is a place of excellence, which offers opportunities for growth and artistry development. It is the place to go if you want to develop into a well-rounded artist who is disciplined, confident and technically sound. I have received daily inspiration from the Joffrey Ballet School for 2 years. I subscribe to all of their social media platforms and have read so many positive testimonials, watched so many motivational video clips, and structured my mindset from the inspirational quotes the school publishes. I am a very hard worker, and really take advantage of any opportunity I am given. I would love to be given the opportunity to attend The Joffrey Ballet School.
Hannah Morrow
"Dance isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; it's learning to dance in the rain." That is the quote I live by. I've been a dedicated and hard working dancer for 13 years. I currently train in ballet/pointe, tap, jazz, musical theatre, modern, and theatre tap. To become a professional dancer is what I am striving for. By attending the Joffrey Ballet School, I can start my career. When I think of world renowned ballet schools, the Joffrey is defiantly my top contender. No school produces better technically trained dancers than the Joffrey. I want to be one of them. The Joffrey has had a role in my family history. My 3rd cousin, Travis Layne Wright, whom I call my uncle, danced with the Joffrey for many years in the 1980s. No words could explain his joy, along with mine, if I followed in his footsteps. Dance is my heart. I didn't choose dance; it found me and spoke to me. That's why I'm still at it today. I wouldn't trade it in for anything.
Hannah Olkovikas
From the very first time I walked into the Joffrey Ballet School in 2013 for the NYC Ballet Intensive, I knew exactly why it is the world premiere dance school in the USA. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming to new faces, you don't feel like a stranger visiting some place for the first time, you feel at home. All of the teachers are so nice and supportive and they truly care about every single one of their students. Their main goal is to help each dancer improve every day to become the best they can be in dance and even in life. I had the time of my life at the Joffrey summer intensive; I learned so many new things that I will cherish forever and I grew tremendously as a dancer and as a choreographer. I'm so grateful for the time I got to spend there and for all the amazing teachers who took the time to pass on what they have learned in their careers to me and all the other amazing dancers I was with. I hope I will get another chance to attend this wonderful program and take the next step in my dance career.
Hedwig Zappacosta
The limbs of a tall tree swaying are the graceful arms of a ballerina’s arabesque. Newly bloomed flowers are a dancer’s developpe radiating from a fouette. Leaves scurrying close to the ground is the controlled chaos of the pas de bourree. The bumblebee’s continuous search for nectar is a series of grand jetes, propelling the dancer from flower to flower. A hummingbird’s wings beat faster and faster in a swift changement, until she is out of breath. Thorns of a rose cast a spell of fatigue upon the ballerina pique after pique. A surprising lightning strike is a frappe, done with precision and force. Sliding down a leaf into a puddle, a drop of rain is a thigh burning grand battement, stomping with pain, until the storm is done. This summer, Joffrey West was a dance through the most beautiful of gardens. I was a seed, cultivated and cared for, and I grew with their encouragement. As the sun set on my week at Joffrey West last summer, I danced a reverence, thankful forever for the experience I was given. I hope this summer to have the sun rise on me again, allowing me to blossom into a stronger dancer.
Hunter Morrison
Joffrey Ballet School has been braking barriers between ballet and reality since 1953, and still estonishes people across the world to this day! Joffrey broke down your emotions and captivated you. They truly made you feel the story they were telling. You were always on the edge of your seat wondering what would happen next. Joffrey Ballet School is truly making a difference in ballet in America. Joffrey Ballet School is world renowned for their diverse excellence in dance training. Dancers from every corner of the globe come here to refine their artistry and technique for a number of years. Dancing is something I simply could not live without. I have truly found what I want to do with my life through dancing.Joffrey Ballet School would help me achieve my dream of performing before packed audiences every night. As Albert Einstein said " we dance for laughter, we dance for tears,we dance for hopes, we dance for screams, we are the dancers and we create dreams."
Jane Anthony
Five years ago, my idea of Ballet was a sparkly pink tutu with bows and pink pointe shoes. Now that I have matured as a person and a dancer, I understand Ballet is a well-worn leotard embellished with sweat and feet blistering through pointe shoes. I love the unique balance between the strength and elegance Ballet portrays. I have been trained in many different forms of dance, including Jazz, Contemporary, and Modern; yet my passion for Ballet grows stronger and stronger. Ballet technique is the backbone of every style, and within every articulating movement, I feel emotion, passion, and love for dance. When Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino founded Joffrey Ballet in 1956, the dancers were expected to be well rounded. When the dancers walked into the studio, it was important for them to work on the styles they weren’t comfortable with, as opposed to repeating their strengths. I try to live by this philosophy when I walk into class because this is the way to excel as a dancer. Joffrey Ballet School takes aspiring dancers and sculpts them into the best of the best. I have confidence Joffrey is the greatest way to make my dreams become a reality.
Jarren Foster
My name is Jarren Foster and I am a sophomore transfer student from the University of Alabama now attending Alabama State University BFA Dance program. I am a passionate, hardworking, and dedicated aspiring male dancer who wants to improve my ballet and contemporary technique. Dance is about finding every movement, every reaction from an internal place. I feel ballet has transformed my perspective on being a dancer, as well as a human being and offered sanctuary along with opportunities to enhance my performance skills. To be afforded the privilege to train with the Joffrey Ballet would be a monumental stepping stone in pursuing my quest to become a classical ballet dancer. As a male dancer, I feel I need all the training that can be afforded. The Joffrey Ballet is known for producing exquisite works as well as dancers. To train at the Joffrey is learn from the very best. Joffrey dancers can execute contemporary at the same high quality level of their classical ballet technique. And this is where I wish to be with my technique. It this ability to capture any style of movement and present every detail clearly to an audience that makes the Joffrey #1!
Jenna Schoen
Attending the Joffrey Ballet School summer intensive 2013 in New York City was a life changing experience for me that elevated my passion for dance to a new level. In the two short weeks I was at Joffrey Ballet School, I learned so much and was able to try new styles and techniques that I had never experienced. The amazing staff of instructors inspired me so much to train hard and mature as a dancer, and focus on my love for dance. I feel that Joffrey Ballet School is the world premiere dance school in the USA because they focus on giving students a well-rounded curriculum that prepares dancers for a lifelong career as a professional dancer. Ever since I was a little girl, it has been my dream to be a dancer. When I'm dancing, the feeling is indescribable. I live and breathe to dance and it would be so amazing to further my technique and challenge myself even more if I was able to study with the JBS again. It would mean so much to me to be able to attend Joffrey Ballet School's NYC Intensive 2015 and continue on my journey of becoming a professional dancer.
Jermaine Turnbow
This summer while studying with The Joffrey Ballet School, I was pushed to become a stronger person and artist. While attending Joffrey West LA, I was thrown into a realm that was familiar to me while at the same time completely different from anything I was accustomed to. I learned more of myself while studying alongside brilliant dancers and learning from the best teachers. The same applies to The Joffrey Experience, while being part of this new intensive I found myself growing more in areas of dance that I didn't think I was any good at. The contemporary styles that were being taught at The Joffrey Experience were all styles I had been interested in trying to be part of. It is now, thanks to The Joffrey Ballet School, that I can say I have made this style part of who I am as a dancer. The Joffrey Ballet School is geared towards creating artists and helping all dancers to mold themselves into the artists that they want to become. The Joffrey Ballet School is brilliant in how they construct these summer intensives, bringing in magnificent teachers from all over, causing the students to grow beyond belief.
Jordan Lange
When I broke the growth plate above my ankle in March, I was devastated. Mom had already paid for a week with NYC ballet intensive and one week with Joffrey West. I told my doctor I was going to dance with Joffrey this summer. I was out for four months. I worked my ankle just like the doctor ordered, but I was worried that I would not be able to keep up at the intensives. My first day with Joffrey NYC was the first time in four months that I had put my pointe shoes on. That week was the best training and recovery program I could have ever been part of. The teachers encouraged me to push myself and overcome my fear of reinjuring my ankle. After one week, it's like I'd never left the dance floor. I had my confidence back. I took this confidence to Joffrey West and spent two amazing weeks with Alice Alyse teaching me new things and pushing me further than I ever thought I could go. The greatest lesson that training with Joffrey taught me is that I can come back better than ever. I can't wait to do it again!
Kacey Jacobs
Last summer I attended the Joffrey West LA Intensive for 3 weeks. I was highly apprehensive going into this intensive because the Joffrey School is so renowned. My acceptance email did nothing to stop me from thinking, “Am I prepared?” “Will I be good enough?” I shouldn't have worried. I left my first day of classes with the best feelings of relief and excitement for the upcoming weeks. Never have I been so inspired by dance than in those 3 weeks. The large variety of teachers challenged and exposed me to new dance styles and teaching methods. I still apply their corrections to my dancing today. The many talented dancers helped me push myself and grow as an artist. Before Joffrey, I had such a difficult time letting go of my insecurities and just dancing for the joy of dance. I’d constantly worry about looking stupid or being judged by others. But at Joffrey, with the help of an amazing faculty, I learned how to turn off the negative thoughts swimming through my mind and just dance for myself. I left Joffrey with a newfound confidence and love for dance. It was one of the best experiences of my life.
Want to leave a testimonial? Email us at: [email protected]
