It’s sports time after school at the Upper Campus, and the girls dorm lounge is about to be transformed into a classical dance studio as freshman Caris Newman pursues her love for ballet.
She positions her mirror and ballet barre and begins her warmup in her normal dance attire which includes a leotard, tights, hair up, and ballet shoes as if she was physically at the studio.
“Ballet was my whole life before OVS,” Caris said. “I love it so much.”
Caris began the school year in the equestrian program but quickly realized that it was not for her. After switching from equestrian she became the soccer manager.
While in the manager position, she said to herself, “I need to be actively doing something right now.”
As the winter sports season was coming up, Caris knew she did not want to continue and missed ballet. Missing the poise and control of ballet, Caris knew she needed to try to bring her endearment for ballet to OVS.
Upper Campus Athletic Director Hank Pankratz was shocked but intrigued by Caris’s proposal.
“I didn’t know her past with Ballet. She seemed very involved and I didn’t want to take that away from her,” Mr. Pankratz said. “I am excited to see her grow in dance and give her that opportunity here.”
Strength and consistent stamina are required to perform successfully. The creativity flowing through a dancer is essential to express the music and storyline while using the movements provided by the body.
“It’s everything I did,” Caris said. “It was my first year not being in the Nutcracker. Since I was probably about three, it just took a toll on me. I had done ballet my whole life and it just ended.”
Caris was unaware of being able to continue ballet on the campus.
“Eventually, I knew I needed to bring this to Mr. Floyd and Mr. Pankratz. So I talked to Mr. Floyd for final approval, and he was like, ‘Yeah, go for it,’ ” Caris said.
Caris’ ballet program back home in South Carolina has an online ballet program that she uses during the time of sports.
“It is an international studio so there is already a program to provide my lessons by video,” Caris said. “When I mentioned I was going to a boarding school, the studio mentioned this option for me.”
The beauty of ballet is as if poetry is in motion. The strict regulation of movement and strength in ballet requires learning from error.
Even with the gratitude Caris has to be able to dance for sports, there are difficulties any other dancer would agree with.
“The only issue is someone not being able to watch me and correct my errors,” Caris said. “I have to figure it out myself. I might be unsure whether my form or movement is right.”
The art of ballet is the lack of fault, the demand for perfection.
Familiarity carries through the love and grace Caris has for the style of dance.
“Ballet is the only thing I have ever known,” Caris said.