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Another sure story of HDS Ballet student: Isabelle An's college experience with 4 years full scholarship, saved up to $400,000 tuition from Wharton School of the University.
"My name is Isabel An, and I am a rising sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania. I have been dancing since I was five, and I started dancing at HDS Ballet when I was eleven.
My time at HDS has taught me so much about preserving in the face of hardship. Thanks to long hours of class and rehearsal, I gained the ability to be very disciplined and methodical. The RAD exams I prepared for and competitions I participated in also exposed me to various sorts of pressures that expanded my ability to adapt to new situations. I am thankful for my training in classical ballet: it has challenged me physically and mentally, and as a result, I am so much stronger.
While at HDS Ballet, I passed several levels of examinations held by the Royal Academy of Dance, danced lead roles in ballets like Serenade and Sleeping Beauty, and competed in national dance competitions. These opportunities helped me learn more about myself and grow into the person that I am today. I’m grateful to Ms. Chen and Mr. Huang for giving me access to these opportunities and watching over me in my most vulnerable years as a maturing adolescent. Their guidance, on stage and off stage, has been influential on my physical and emotional development.
I have gained many accolades from competitions and examinations throughout the years, but my most prized possession is my knowledge of my body and its capabilities, as well as the friendships I have made at HDS. Ballet has taught me about myself: my boundaries, my strengths, my likes and dislikes, and my potential to grow. I’m always proud to tell others that I’m a dancer because dancers are some of the strongest people I know. To me, dance is no longer just a hobby: it’s a place of refuge and solace. I owe it to HDS for helping develop my love for dance. Looking forward, I plan on continuing to dance throughout college.
Isabel An
