Behind stunning leaps, graceful extensions and sky-high kicks is a passion for dance, nurtured for many years. Ava McCall, 12, can be seen on football fields, stages and gym floors, performing with the Majestics and in separate studio productions. She’s been on the team since her freshman year, and her hard work has proven beneficial. The Majestics are currently working on competition dances, which include multiple trick sections that she’s featured in.
McCall started dancing at four years old and never looked back. Her mom enrolled her in mommy-and-me tap classes, which led to countless hours spent at the studio.
“I just really wanted to say that I danced for 14 years, so I never took a break,” McCall said.
Dancing for a long period of time can take a toll on one’s physical health and lead to bone fractures, muscle damage and other problems that persist throughout life. Furthermore, mental blockages can affect skills that require intense concentration, such as turning.
“These things not only set you back in the dance world but can also affect your personal life as well,” McCall said.
Time is money, and dedicated dancers spend a chunk of it at the studio. While this offers the opportunity to improve, it often comes with the expense of sacrificing quality time with loved ones. Additionally, performers often adopt a mindset where dance establishes their entire identity, leading to increased anxiety when obstacles emerge. When receiving constant criticism and comparison about their body and style, feelings of pressure to improve amplify.
“You have to continuously have a positive mindset while only focusing on yourself rather than the people around you,” McCall said. “If you are able to do this, these obstacles will go from something that seems as if it’s ruining your life to something that’s going to help you grow not only as a dancer but a person as well.”
Performances and competitions are a big part of dance, so months of preparation are set in place for shows to look uniform. McCall gets up for practice every morning at 7:10 a.m. for the Majestics, with an additional two-hour rehearsal after school for her studio. The amount of time spent with her fellow dancers creates a family over time, united under their shared love of dancing.
“Some of my best memories as a dancer come from all the friendships I’ve made over the past 14 years,” McCall said. “The … people you [meet] while going through the hardships of competing, cleaning and preparing a dance can allow you to make special bonds you wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else.”
McCall can rely on her teammates whenever she’s feeling down, and in turn, they benefit from her years of experience dealing with choreography and technique. With that experience comes more flexibility and freedom to explore new tricks and even choreograph her own routines.
“Dancing is super important to me because it’s an ability for me to represent my school as a Majestic, but also be able to have a new art form … for me to have to be able to experiment with and do every day,” McCall said.
Dance is meaningful to many people, including McCall, who finds connections with other people and movement to the music.
“Dance can move people in a way that some other sports can’t,” McCall said. “The meaning and the integrity and intention behind dance can really [be a motivator].”