*My DaNcE hIsToRy*
My name's Nicole and I have been taking dance for over 9 years now! I can't imagine my life without DANCE in it.
I started taking a tap and ballet combination class at the age of three at Carolee's dance studio. The next year I stayed true to simply jazz one day a week. At this point I really wanted to be one of the many "competition kids"...so, Miss Carolee told me that I had to start taking ballet before I could even think about wanting to be in competitions. And of course, the next year I took 2 ballet classes and a jazz class a week to prepare for my dream of competing with dance. I continued with this for the next four years with the exeption of taking one tap( along with the one jazz and two ballet) class a week the last year. At the age of nine Miss Carolee finally let me become a "Competition Kid"!!! My first year, my friend Jeff and I competed with a jazz and a tap duet and scored very highly considering it was our first competition. After this first year of competition I started to consentrate a lot on my technique with ballet classes at the Florida Ballet School ( located at Carolee's Dance Studio)This helped me to do much better in competitions. But, My ballet technique majorly improved my 6th grade year. This was because it was my first year at John Hopkins Middle School, Center for The Performing Arts. The teachers there really helped me improve by having everyone start out as beginners and progress from there. I also continued to study with Carolee's Dance Studio and Florida Ballet School exclusively until June of 2000. At this time Miss Carolee closed her studio:( This was a very emotional time for me because not only was she closing her studio, but she was also moving. That summer I attended a summer dance workshop intensive at the Academy of Ballet Arts. This was such a great experience because I met so many awesome new people! So after the cool time I had during the summer I take ballet at the Academy of ballet arts. At the Academy of Ballet Arts I'm involved in many, if not all of the productions that go on there. I am also part of the St. Petersburg Folk Ensemble that Mrs P(Pomerantzeff)is the head of. We perform many intricate folk dances. Including Russian, Greek,and Moldavian pieces!And many more!
I still miss Carolee, but I'm thankful for all that she taught me and causing me to find such a perfect new teacher and mentor( Mrs. Pomerantzeff)along with her great staff, and great new friends at the Academy of Ballet Arts! I am now attending The Pinellas County Center for the Arts(PCCA) High School along with the Academy of Ballet arts!
