As bright lights shine onto the stage, Sophie Richardson calypso-leaps to center stage, rolling across the floor before kicking high into the air. She is in her element.
Ever since Richardson’s early childhood, dance has been an important part of her life and a core piece of her identity.
“When I was little, I would choreograph my own dances, and my mom said, ‘Why don’t we put her in these classes? She has nothing to do after school,’ and so I did that,” Richardson said.
Richardson has been dancing with Dance Theatre Studio for the past 12 years. Both Richardson’s mom and grandma danced at the same studio, so every day, she carries on their legacy.
“I’ve always loved the arts, and my family is very into the arts,” Richardson said. “I really think that dance is one of the best things if you like expressing yourself.”
Richardson participates in various types of dance, each of which allows her to represent herself in unique ways.
“Different styles of dance show the different personalities of you,” Richardson said. “You can dance for yourself or for somebody else. You can show emotion and passion.”
When Richardson was younger, a few words came to mind when she thought of a dancer: beautiful, flexible, and skinny. Today, with the help of her welcoming studio, she knows that dance isn’t a competition to be the tiniest, most perfect girl in the room. Instead, it’s about expressing her emotions in ways that make her feel most like herself.
“I look at something like ‘Dance Moms’, and I’m seeing all these people crying and breaking down in tears and getting hurt, and there’s so much drama,” Richardson said. “And I’m looking at my teachers and thinking that this is not what dance is supposed to be.”
Richardson doesn’t agree with the “Dance Moms” philosophy. She believes that competitive dance shouldn’t be about winning the most medals or being the most accomplished dancer in the studio.
“It’s a way to show that you have a passion for something,” Richardson said. “And instead of just saying that you feel emotional, you can show it without talking. You can show it on your face and the way you move across the floor. It really shows what emotion you’re feeling on the base level.”
A strong sense of community is one of the primary values fostered at Dance Theatre Studio. Since Richardson has been dancing with many of her peers for years now, she has developed a powerful connection with her fellow classmates.
“I remember going to one of our team movie nights in my first year, and instantly someone was talking to me and being all friendly,” Richardson said. “I think that one of the most important things is that people really don’t care what you look like. They just care that you show up and that you put an effort in.”
Richardson has had many role models throughout her years at Dance Theatre Studio. Taking inspiration from her past mentors, she’s quickly become a role model for new dancers at the studio.
“I’m the oldest sibling, and I always wanted someone to look up to,” Richardson said. “And now I get to be one of the big dancers and show little kids that they can express themselves in so many different ways.”
The dance community has made Richardson fall even more in love with dance. No matter what’s going on in her day-to-day life, her dance studio will always feel like home.
“You go through emotions, and you dance, and you grow,” Richardson said. “It makes such a big community of people who deeply support you and want you to succeed.”
