By Erica Cho
Clare Reynolds is one of the most bright and talented dancers you will ever meet. Just her experience in dancing competitively outside and in school is truly inspiring. Clare came to Collingwood School in Grade 7, already deep into her dancing journey. She started with ballet when she was 6 years old and was already competitively dancing by 7 years old. Especially towards the last few years of elementary school—Grades 5, 6, 7— she reached a level that a lot of dancers that age cannot even think about. Clare started to compete provincially and her Grade 7 year was filled with big competitions, programs and provincials.
To Clare, dance is how she expresses herself. She likes to dance because there are things that you can only get through to another person by dancing and not by using words. She says, “you can never put into words what you can say through dance.” Dance is an important form of expression for her that cannot be replaced with anything else.
Her favourite, most meaningful piece she has ever done is a dance to the cover of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah by K.D. Lang. The dance was for her teacher’s ill mother and Clare thought that the song was so moving and heartfelt—especially for someone so special. She felt the emotions of her teacher passing through from her through the dancers to the mother in each and every part of the choreography. The emotions were flowing through and being channelled through the dance and Clare saw real beauty in it. The dance had been amazing and it is a dance she will never forget.
Clare had been doing competitive ballet ever since she started dancing and when she came to Collingwood and joined dance here, she found a new love for contemporary, modern, and jazz. Because ballet requires such strength, perseverance and strong skill base, dancers who enjoy other styles of dance are recommended or sometimes required to take ballet as well as their original type of dance. Clare’s skills as a highly trained ballet dancer gave her a huge advantage in transitioning smoothly into these other intense dance styles, such as jazz. By Grade 8, she stopped dancing outside of school and poured all her energy into the numerous shows and dance performances at Collingwood.
At Collingwood, she met Ms. Tench, our one and only beloved dance teacher. When asked if there was anyone that inspires her, Clare’s answer came right away. “Ms. Tench definitely inspires me.” She is inspired by Ms. Tench’s genuinity and charisma. Clare thinks that her ability to turn any stressful situation into a fun and easy-going experience is incredible and she admits that everybody loves Ms. Tench. Having that kind of energy and kindness to go around is what made Clare admire her so much. She aspires to achieve Ms. Tench’s level of attitude towards life.
As a graduating student this year, Clare is very busy with getting herself ready for the next stage of her life but she wishes to continue to have dance as a friend by her side, an outlet that will keep her going. She enjoys being with, talking with, and observing people and has set her eyes on something that involves the study of psychology. She is very interested in learning about people—how we think and why we do what we do—and is excited to pursue this passion in university.
Her advice to the younger students is to make sure you are doing what you love and don’t forget why you loved that thing in the first place. If you stress yourself out and forget the enjoyment of what you are doing you need to know how to persevere but also know how to say no and move on.
I wish Clare luck and I know that the fellow dancers at Collingwood will miss her very much.
Clare Reynolds is one of the most bright and talented dancers you will ever meet. Just her experience in dancing competitively outside and in school is truly inspiring. Clare came to Collingwood School in Grade 7, already deep into her dancing journey. She started with ballet when she was 6 years old and was already competitively dancing by 7 years old. Especially towards the last few years of elementary school—Grades 5, 6, 7— she reached a level that a lot of dancers that age cannot even think about. Clare started to compete provincially and her Grade 7 year was filled with big competitions, programs and provincials.
To Clare, dance is how she expresses herself. She likes to dance because there are things that you can only get through to another person by dancing and not by using words. She says, “you can never put into words what you can say through dance.” Dance is an important form of expression for her that cannot be replaced with anything else.
Her favourite, most meaningful piece she has ever done is a dance to the cover of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah by K.D. Lang. The dance was for her teacher’s ill mother and Clare thought that the song was so moving and heartfelt—especially for someone so special. She felt the emotions of her teacher passing through from her through the dancers to the mother in each and every part of the choreography. The emotions were flowing through and being channelled through the dance and Clare saw real beauty in it. The dance had been amazing and it is a dance she will never forget.
Clare had been doing competitive ballet ever since she started dancing and when she came to Collingwood and joined dance here, she found a new love for contemporary, modern, and jazz. Because ballet requires such strength, perseverance and strong skill base, dancers who enjoy other styles of dance are recommended or sometimes required to take ballet as well as their original type of dance. Clare’s skills as a highly trained ballet dancer gave her a huge advantage in transitioning smoothly into these other intense dance styles, such as jazz. By Grade 8, she stopped dancing outside of school and poured all her energy into the numerous shows and dance performances at Collingwood.
At Collingwood, she met Ms. Tench, our one and only beloved dance teacher. When asked if there was anyone that inspires her, Clare’s answer came right away. “Ms. Tench definitely inspires me.” She is inspired by Ms. Tench’s genuinity and charisma. Clare thinks that her ability to turn any stressful situation into a fun and easy-going experience is incredible and she admits that everybody loves Ms. Tench. Having that kind of energy and kindness to go around is what made Clare admire her so much. She aspires to achieve Ms. Tench’s level of attitude towards life.
As a graduating student this year, Clare is very busy with getting herself ready for the next stage of her life but she wishes to continue to have dance as a friend by her side, an outlet that will keep her going. She enjoys being with, talking with, and observing people and has set her eyes on something that involves the study of psychology. She is very interested in learning about people—how we think and why we do what we do—and is excited to pursue this passion in university.
Her advice to the younger students is to make sure you are doing what you love and don’t forget why you loved that thing in the first place. If you stress yourself out and forget the enjoyment of what you are doing you need to know how to persevere but also know how to say no and move on.
I wish Clare luck and I know that the fellow dancers at Collingwood will miss her very much.
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