Dance Student Spotlight: Isabelle

My name is Isabelle and I am 14 years old. I dance at Linda Virgoe Dance Studios, UK.

@isabelle.rose_dancer

Can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.

I started dancing when I was 4.5 years old, at the same time as I started school. At first, it was just a 30-minute ballet class each week...but it snowballed, and I now dance almost every day. I can't imagine ever not dancing!

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?

Time is my biggest issue. I go to an academic school and then a dance studio in the evenings and on weekends. As I've got older, I've danced more and more...but I've also had a lot more schoolwork and studying to do. Sometimes it's difficult to balance everything, especially when tests and performances all come at the same time. I can get overwhelmed by it all.

What personal limitations if any did you go through in your young career?

I struggle a lot with confidence and feeling like I'm not good enough.

Has anybody ever tried to limit you on what you could do? If so how did you fight it?

There will always be people who compare you to others. That can be tough, but it's just life. I try to focus on just working on myself and trying to be that bit better than I was last week.

How do you conquer negative talk?

That's tough. Sometimes it's really hard not to listen - especially if you're hearing things that echo your own fears and concerns. I just try to remember that things end up working out the way they should.

What is your favorite quote?

"Shape your own destiny, don't let others do it for you."- Author Unknown

So, what’s next? Any big plans?

Next year I hope to apply for full-time dance training at vocational schools.