Writer Korrina Smith

By Adam Blakemore

Ever since she could remember, Junior Korrina Smith hadn’t been able to do a backbend in gymnastics. And after she almost broke her arm in practice she even more adamantly believed it, with nothing short of a command forcing her to do it.

At the recital where she was going to have to finally do that backbend, her

heart beating faster then it ever had before, she took a step back and just thought about what she had to do. Steeling herself, she looked up at row upon row of flickering, multi-colored fluorescent lights, and bent back from her waist, until her palms pressed against the rough material of the mat she was on.

She has been dancing for years, her instruction starting off as a 2 year old that happily danced along with the music on commercials. She never once had second thoughts about the class, and soon she went from taking just gymnastics and Jazz to taking Tap as well.

“Jazz is fun, but I’d have to say that Tap has been my favorite so far,” Smith said.

She has gone outside the classroom too, as she used to be on the school dance team, choosing to leave due to internal drama. Although the time on the team was brief she does remember the friendships she made on the team.

In the future, She hopes to be able to teach dance part time, not as a job, but just to spread along the joy that dance can bring into your life. Her plan is to be different from her own teacher, who keeps herself distanced from the students, instead wishing to be open and caring towards all of her students.

“I don’t mind if my children don’t want to dance, I won’t force them to. But I would be really happy if they did,” Smith said.