Our Dancer of the Week, Libby Patterson, describes herself as a “dedicated dancer.” She says she loves to learn and grow as a person whether in school or at dance. She also loves learning from teachers and choreographers at conventions and intensives. While she loves her studio teachers, she likes to learn from others and believes all teachers have something different to teach her. She says she has a passion for dance and once she sets her mind to anything, nothing can stop her. This summer she danced her solo at Nationals with a broken arm in a full cast. After spending all year working on her solo and putting all that work that into her solo, she just felt that she had to perform that solo, it was just that important to her. She is very dedicated to what she loves and has a real passion for those things she cares about.
Libby started dancing when she was four years old. Since she used to love to dance around her home to princess videos, her mom thought it might be fun to put her in some dance classes. As a result, they tried a few classes at a local studio and Libby loved it immediately.
Her happiest moment related to dance was when she placed 5th overall this year at Nationals in Myrtle Beach. Libby had broken her arm just tend days before they left and as a result her arm had to be in a full cast. Four days before they left, it was decided that she would wrap up her cast and do a modified version of her solo. She was very pleased that she was able to dance at all and incredibly proud when they called her name as fifth place overall. She was unbelievably happy! Since she had no idea if she would place at all, she believed fifth was a huge accomplishment! She also won a special award for balance. The judges told her they were proud of her for coming out and dancing while wearing a cast. Libby was also delighted when she was able to dance in one of Artistic Design’s (her home studio’s) group dances. When she broke her arm, she felt like she had let her team down because the group dance would have to be re-choreographed without her. Therefore, being able to do the group dance was a big deal and she was just ecstatic that she could still do her part!
Libby’s goal has always been to be the best dancer that she could be and she hopes that she is achieving that goal every day while dancing in class! She also hopes to be a good teammate and a good student in school and hopes that she is also achieving those objectives! However, her special goal regarding dance that she has always had is to be accepted to the Joffrey Ballet Summer Intensive. As far as school, she would love to explore more with science and math!
Her main goal for this coming year is to be a good teammate to the girls with whom she dances. Also, she wants to branch out and try styles of dance that she typically doesn’t do, or doesn’t do as often. She wants to try some new conventions and intensives.
She says that dance teaches her to work hard and go be dedicated and passionate about what she loves. Someday she would love to dance with a Company and to attend a school for dance. She knows that it isn’t easy to be a professional dancer, but no matter where dance takes her, she knows that she will use what she is learning now, and what she will continue to learn. No matter where her future path takes her (which she hopes will be with a Company) she will be grateful for her dance experience.
Libby says she had a GREAT experience dealing with Bailar Dancewear! She had to match her custom costume and Bailar was the ONLY store that had the exact color she needed! She says they will definitely be buying more things from Bailar this coming year! She loves the different colors and fabrics that she can get from Bailar and the fact that their colors match all her costumes! Plus, Bailar provides her so many different options in tops and shorts to mix and match and look great for conventions and intensives. Plus, they have the yardage to match, too!
Please post a comment if you have had any experience with Libby Patterson.
