A ballerina is an artist who uses movement to convey emotions, stories, and ideas.
Jensen Leedy, a student at Plano East High School, is just such an artist. According to her mom, Jensen's been dancing ever since she could stand. She has trained hard in pursuit of mastering her craft and expresses herself through dance with grace, precision, and artistry.
Balancing extracurriculars can be a challenge, but it's possible with careful planning and precision. It also requires sacrifice. For Jensen, who maintains straight A's, this means her primary focus outside of school is dance. In 2021, it also meant pushing through performances of "Nutcracker" with a broken foot.
But it's not without its rewards.
Jensen sees her dance academy as a second home, but adds with a laugh, "It's actually like a first home because I'm there more than I'm home!" She views her fellow dancers as sisters.
Dancing has helped Jensen develop her confidence. While building confidence to perform on stage can be challenging, it can be achieved with the right mindset and preparation. Jensen also notes, "You're not really a dancer until you fall on stage." She believes that having fun and being yourself on stage will make you more confident and give a better performance.
What She’s Watching: “A list of classic movies from my friend!”
Who She’s Following: Marianela Nunez from The Royal Ballet
5 Dance Lessons:
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Don’t give up
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Take criticism and keep on going
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Be disciplined
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Learn to juggle
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The future is bright