On Pointe: Balancing Ballet and Life

Kara H. '27 is a ballet dancer and sophomore at Prestans. In this piece, she explores the sacrifices you make in pursuit of your passions. Image credit: Rachel Neville Photography.

What does it mean to have a true passion? To me, passion is a deep, powerful emotion that drives someone to pursue something with complete dedication. The pursuit of your passion ignites a sense of purpose, fulfillment, and joy. Passion fuels perseverance, and it pushes one to go above and beyond. It adds meaning to life, awakens creativity, and fosters continuous learning and growth. 

Ballet is my passion. I’ve danced since I was just three years old. I have struggled balancing this strong calling with my academic, extracurricular, and familial commitments; however I’ve learned the most important thing is to show up at the studio the next day, ready for the challenge. A fellow ballet dancer and Prestans student, Ramsey, says “Having a passion [doesn’t] mean that every single day you do that thing you feel amazing. It’s just that even on the days when you are feeling off, you still know that thing holds the same amount of weight in your life.” Another ballet dancer at Prestans, Cynthia, says that her longing to pursue ballet as a “full time job” motivates her to work through her challenges. The desire to overcome and reach our goals inspires a dancer to continue training hard, day after day, and push past our physical limits. 

When my friends who aren’t dancers ask me why I feel so drawn to the art form, I have to pause to find the best answer. Ballet is not only beautiful to watch but also beautiful to feel in the body when you perform. The movements are dynamic and musical; it is easy to get swept away. Whenever I watch live performances or even ballet videos online, I am inspired again and again to express more of my emotions through dance. For Ramsey, “ballet gives [her] a structure… to be able to create within.” However, to become an advanced ballet dancer, you have to be wholeheartedly devoted. Every time I choose to prioritize ballet, I remind myself of the dreams I’ve been chasing since starting ballet, like joining a highly selective company and performing the title role of a show. A dedicated ballet dancer must be willing to sacrifice some aspects of young adulthood, such as casual free-time, socializing with friends, a pain-free body, and in many cases, in-person school. These difficult decisions, however, support the ultimate goal of becoming the best dancer you can be. 

Many of us at Prestans have made the choice to go to online school so that we can fully pursue our passions. While we spend a lot of time working hard on our own pursuits, hearing about and understanding others' passions is equally important. When we share what we love, it helps us build empathy and deepen connections. It allows us to broaden our perspectives, appreciate unique talents, and support one another on our diverse journeys. Thank you for taking the time to hear about my passion, and I hope to learn about yours, too.