Before going on stage, senior Valentina Rodriguez always reminds herself to take a breath. Her adrenaline starts pumping and anxiety can begin to take over, but she reminds herself that being brave enough to perform matters more than being perfect. After years of dancing, stepping onto the stage has become more than just performing for Valentina. It has helped her find herself and a confidence that she did not always have.
Valentina first began ballet at only three-years-old. After she moved and left her old dance studio, she stopped dancing for several years. However, she always remained interested in dance and had always wanted to continue dancing.
“I remember just being so hypnotized by the graceful movements of dancers I’d seen on TV,” she said. “I told myself I’d be like them one day.”
During her freshman year at Immaculata-La Salle, Rodriguez returned to dance by joining the Lionettes Dance Team. Now, she practices with her team every Monday and Wednesday from 3 to 7 p.m. The Lionettes practice many styles like jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary, lyrical, musical theater, and ballet. Out of all the styles she performs, contemporary has become Rodriguez’s favorite because of the freedom it gives her to express herself.
Rodriguez stated that the ability to express herself has also helped outside of dance. Before joining the Lionettes, she described herself as extremely quiet and shy. Being part of the team and working with her coaches slowly encouraged her to come out of her shell. Her teammates on the ILS dance team have also noticed her growth.
“Valentina has become a lot more confident onstage, and you can really see that when she performs,” said junior Isabella Heredia.
One of Valentina’s most memorable performances happened during her junior year at a competition in Orlando. The team performed a dance called “Anything for Love,” and she remembers the dancers giving everything they had to the performance. After performing, their coach told them that watching them perform had brought her to tears because of how beautiful they looked onstage.
However, her journey as a dancer has also meant working through difficult moments. Valentina said there have been multiple times when a bad practice has made her consider quitting. Instead of allowing those thoughts and feelings stop her, she has learned to accept that mistakes are part of improving and recognizes that not every practice will be perfect. Her determination during those practices is something her teammates have also noticed.
“When things get difficult, she stays positive and keeps trying,” teammate and junior Madison Vega said. “Even when something is challenging, Vale doesn’t give up easily and keeps pushing herself.”
During her senior year, Valentina has also managed a way to balance between dance and school. She uses time during other days of the week, outside of the four-hour practices on Mondays and Wednesdays, to handle her responsibilities and complete her homework.
As graduation approaches, Valentina hopes dance continues to be a part of her life. She is considering continuing on a college dance team or possibly with a dance company. What once started with a three-year-old watching dancers on television has become something that has shaped her personality, confidence, and future.
