MANSFIELD – The academic careers of five seniors at Richland Academy of the Arts are coming to a close, but their dance careers are just beginning.
Seniors Lauren Beard, Jillian Cordial, Star Henthorn, Schuyler Kunkel and Willa Marks are wrapping up long tenures in the dance program at Richland Academy of the Arts. Their final performance together will take place this weekend at the Academy’s spring dance recital, “A Night At The Movies.”
Not only will the seniors perform their final piece as a group, they will also showcase their individual talents through senior solo performances they have been preparing the past year. Each dancer has worked with instructor Marden Ramos to create a routine where their abilities can shine.
“We’re all totally different, and it’s really cool to see our solos together this year,” said Star Henthorn of Lexington. “Sometimes (Ramos) does some similar movements with everyone’s solo, but this year you can tell the individual person by their solo because we all had input on what we want to do. I’m into hip-hop so I have hip-hop incorporated into mine; Willa’s a crazy modern dancer, and we’ve also got pointe.”
“Our solos are supposed to encompass who you are as a dancer and who you’ve grown into,” added Jillian Cordial of Lexington. “I know mine has a story that goes through certain parts of what’s going on in my life, and (Ramos) tries to incorporate things you enjoy and where you’re going to represent who you are not just as a dancer but as a person.”
All five senior girls consider themselves “sisters” because of the hours, days and years they’ve spent together in Richland Academy’s dance program. Many of them have been dancing since elementary school, a few began shortly after they could walk.
Though the girls have been involved in other extracurricular activities over the years, dance was always something that called them back.
“I did softball and gymnastics and piano, but I never really stuck with all that,” said Lauren Beard of Ontario. “The reason I liked dance so much I think was because it’s one of those things that combines the rigor of sports with the beauty of the arts.”
“There are moments we’ve all had where we think of how our lives would be different if we weren’t here every day. Maybe we’d actually have lives,” said Henthorn with a laugh. “There was a moment in my life where I wondered if I would pursue dance as a career, and now it’s like why would I ever second-guess myself. It’s my whole life and my passion.”
Dance has become a passion that all five seniors will be pursuing after graduation, either dancing within college programs or nearby companies.
“Thinking about going to a company where I’m not going to see anybody that I dance with every day is kind of sad,” said Schuyler Kunkel of Ashland. “But it’s exciting that we’re all moving on to bigger and better things.”
Beard plans on attending The Ohio State University in Columbus to major in business, and also dance in Columbus’ New Vision Dance Company.
“I could never cut it off all at once,” Beard said. “Obviously when I’m like 60 years old I might not be able to do pointe, but it’s just one of those things you can’t let go because it’s a part of you now after you’ve been dancing for so long. It’s weird to think of not dancing.”
Cordial will be attending the University of Cincinnati to double major in political science and dance after receiving scholarships for both academics and dance, and hopes to join the Cincinnati Ballet.
“It’s really exciting that we’re all going really amazing places, but it is bittersweet because we’ve been together forever,” Cordial said. “When you come to dance you’re coming to your second family.”
Henthorn will be attending Rutgers University to major in dance with minors in animal sciences and biology. She was particularly proud of the seniors’ performance at the company’s performance in March.
“We always get nervous before shows, but this time we were so confident and we knew it was our last big show and we had to go out with a bang,” Henthorn said.
Kunkel will be attending Ashland University to double major in English and creative writing with a minor in political science. She hopes to continue dance with a company out of Columbus, and will also be busy planning her upcoming wedding.
“At Ashland they don’t have a dance program, so it was really scary for me for a while cause I couldn’t figure out what i was going to do,” Kunkel said. “Finding something in Columbus was a lifesaver for me, because the idea of not dancing at all was terrifying. To put so much time in it and stop just because I graduated, I can’t imagine.”
Willa Marks of Ontario will be attending Wright State University to major in dance and minor in photography, and also perform with the Dayton Ballet’s second company.
“I like the art part of dance because I’m another form of an artist, too,” Marks said. “I like that you can express yourself, and it makes me happy.”
When it comes to the legacy they leave for the younger girls at Richland Academy of the Arts, the seniors hope to impress upon them that hard work pays off in the long run, and to always be a good person.
“I hope they keep working hard like we do,” said Marks. “I feel like we were the first group that really showed how much we love dance and how hard we want to work towards it. As an artist, it’s a risky career but we’re all going to try, and we’re not scared.”
“Never let anything stop you; sometimes you don’t want to come, you’re tired and you have homework, but honestly some of the days where I haven’t wanted to come end up being the best days for me,” said Beard. “Come no matter what, because it’s going to pay off in the end.”
“I think we’ve taught them all to be really kind,” said Cordial. “And just as life advice, whatever you do just do what you’re passionate about. A life without passion is not a life at all.”
