The Andrea Rizzo Foundation is a non-profit designed to follow the dream of Andrea Rizzo, who as a child was diagnosed and treated for cancer. Later her dream was to become a dance therapist to share her experience and passion until unfortunately a drunk driver hit her. The Andrea Rizzo Foundation has its own mission and reason as to why it was created: Andréa Rizzo had a love of life that was felt by all who knew her. She was a loving daughter, only child, compassionate friend, dedicated Special Education teacher, gifted dancer and childhood cancer survivor. She was attending graduate school at NYU in hopes of becoming a dance therapist so that she could share her love of dance and its positive impact on her life with the lives of fragile…
Misty Danielle Copeland was born on September 10, 1982 in Kansas City, Missouri. Even though she was born in Kansas City, she was raised in San Pedro, California. Misty was very late in starting ballet studies, but it didn’t stop her. Usually, ballerinas start studying when they are three or four, but Misty was thirteen when she took her first ballet class. When she unlocked the magical world of ballet, Misty was coping with the fact she was living in a shabby motel room with her five siblings and fighting for a place to sleep on the floor.…
Honestly, I’ll come right out and admit that I have never been the Detroit Lion’s number one fan, or any football fan for that matter. Sure, I had technically gone to each of the homecoming games both years in high school, but only for the sole excuse of being able to put some red war paint on my face and attempt to catch up with some friends. The only exposure I had to the sport was walking through the doors of Phase Three during cross country season. Day after day, I was forced to push through groups of teenage guys reeking with a putrid stench of dried sweat, rotting eggs, and grass stains; the smell in itself was enough to make my eyes water.…
The purpose of this project is to show that Misty Copeland is changing the way the ballet world defines the correct image and body shape of a ballerina. Copeland does not fit the stereotype of ballerina: she is 5’2, has really defined muscles, has bust, and is African American. She started ballet at the age of 13, late for a dancer, but her pure talent made her into a prodigy. Misty Copeland really set out to become a professional ballerina, regardless of her ethnicity and body shape, she pushed through the obstacles that were set in front of her because she did not have the correct body shape and was not white. She is part of the American Ballet Theater (ABT) and is renowned because she is one of their first African American soloist, and is…
The short interview with Lauren Anderson is so inspiring that gives me an insight into passion and success as well as motivates me to persist in following my dream. Anderson’s story of her career as a principal ballerina seems quite simple and typical as she started early at seven, soon became a principal dancer of Houston Ballet, and then now is giving back to the society by teaching ballet to children of “underserved” community. However, I believe behind that story are all strenuous efforts and untiring perseverance along with her outstanding talent that kept her lifelong dream alive and made it come true. I can feel in her a great passion for the ballet career in every word she said and every story she told. Because ballet is hard and highly…
Jonas Brothers When I was about ten years old, I was in love with the Jonas Brothers. I had over one hundred and forty- three pictures and posters on my bedroom wall at one point. I owned all of their CD’s and even had the Jonas Brothers book. Although I am not on bit embarrassed about liking the Jonas Brothers in the in the past, I am a bit embarrassed about my recent obsession with them.…
This excessively specific physique has become a sort of “job requirement” for ballerinas. Most are not born with the qualities that are required, meaning that they starve themselves almost to the point of death. These requirements do not make sense because in order for a ballerina to survive 8-hour rehearsal days, she must eat. If she doesn’t, she won’t be able to perform her best, and will in turn not look her best on stage. Weight and body image is something that Copeland, as well as many other ballerinas in the past have struggled with.…
Today My wagon train and I are leaving Ft. Kearny in search of Courthouse Rock, but first we have reach the California crossing and cross the south platte river. The river is too wide to be bridged and to shallow for a ferry so we have to cross it by using the sandbars. When we got in the water one of the children from another wagon almost drowned because of the current. It took us 30 minutes to get from one end of the river to the other.…
I would like for you to get to know me a little bit better. I'm going to tell you just a few of my passions. You can tell a lot about someone by their interests. Growing up I’ve always been raised around sports. Basketball it was the Denver Nuggets until Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony traded teams.…
Basketball became my favorite sport when my daddy first took me over my uncle house and watching my cousins play basketball against each other. At the age of 10 my dad bought me my first basketball goal, then my friends start coming over and play with me. I love basketball so much I started playing them for money. Playing for the school was my best time ever. Elementary to middle school I started point guard and shot my first game winning shot in the eighth grade.…
“When your music begins, you will be in competition mode.” I took a deep breath, it was showtime. I was introduced to the world of competitive dance in August of 2011 and ever since, dance has been the outlet for all of my emotions. I started off as a shy little girl who hid in the corner, barely extending her limbs as I attempted to mock those in front of me. As time elapsed, I persevered through challenging ten hour practices and the taunting of my peers.…
What once was a mere burning match, weak and fragile, has grown into a magnificent wildfire, capable of engulfing the entire planet itself in its flames. Passion. For anything imaginable, those with it can shine far brighter than any other. I’ve always envied those with something they could cling to and call their passion, never having it myself. After years of searching, it appeared.…
In the article, “We Are Not Created Equal in Every Way”, Joan Ryan writes about a little girl who loves to dance but seemingly is not a skinny petite child. The author, who has written substantially about the pressures on young female athletes tosses out a red herring, insisting that the concern is not about Fredrika’s weight but that a child of only eight years is being thrust into such a burdensome position. My interpretation of this article is that the author is trying to validate reasons for the child to not be accepted due to her weight. Therefore, I would like to point out some of the logical flaws in her reasoning.…
I first gained an interest in music in elementary school music class. After playing recorders and learning about the history of music, I was inspired to learn as many different instruments as possible. I began piano lessons in third grade, and started learning cornet a year later. After many years of attending music camps, playing in school and church bands, joining marching band and drumline, and experimenting on my own, I have grown immensely as a musician. My main instruments are trumpet/cornet, piano, marimba, and ukulele.…
Discipline, balance, and commitment. These three concepts are the most valuable factors a dancer must present in order to perform to their best ability. Teachings that not only develop a dancer into a skilled entertainer, but also help form a well taught human being. As a child, I was never a prima ballerina and my love for dance didn't begin at an early age.…