By Sophia Garofalo
“I think it really started as just a fun extracurricular activity to try something new, but I really loved it and still dance today; it’s become something a lot more than that and it’s a really special part of my childhood and life now.”
Kaili began her first 10 years of dance at the Anne Wyman School of Dance Arts. She trained in both the Cecchetti and classical styles of ballet during her time there, and also took contemporary dance classes. She tells how it has always been a huge piece of her life further back than she can remember. From three to thirteen Kaili continued dance outside of school and couldn’t wait to get involved in Collingwood’s dance groups.
For the last three years Kaili has actively participated in Collingwood’s dance groups.
She came to Morven excited to get involved in the dance program in grades 8 and 9, she began the class as an elective as well being in Junior Dance Company. Kaili, now in grade 10 is apart of Collingwood’s very own Senior Dance Company.
As a child Kaili remembers being amused by professional dancers in the Nutcracker every year. The stories brought to life through movement sparked a passion for ballet within her. Her parents and dance teachers played a big role in supporting Kaili’s dance career. Although Kaili does not compete, she describes dance as a form of expression and enjoys the free feeling of dancing without comparing herself to others but also recognizes how she is sure competition would have been a great experience.
“I think it really started as just a fun extracurricular activity to try something new, but I really loved it and still dance today; it’s become something a lot more than that and it’s a really special part of my childhood and life now.”
Kaili began her first 10 years of dance at the Anne Wyman School of Dance Arts. She trained in both the Cecchetti and classical styles of ballet during her time there, and also took contemporary dance classes. She tells how it has always been a huge piece of her life further back than she can remember. From three to thirteen Kaili continued dance outside of school and couldn’t wait to get involved in Collingwood’s dance groups.
For the last three years Kaili has actively participated in Collingwood’s dance groups.
She came to Morven excited to get involved in the dance program in grades 8 and 9, she began the class as an elective as well being in Junior Dance Company. Kaili, now in grade 10 is apart of Collingwood’s very own Senior Dance Company.
As a child Kaili remembers being amused by professional dancers in the Nutcracker every year. The stories brought to life through movement sparked a passion for ballet within her. Her parents and dance teachers played a big role in supporting Kaili’s dance career. Although Kaili does not compete, she describes dance as a form of expression and enjoys the free feeling of dancing without comparing herself to others but also recognizes how she is sure competition would have been a great experience.
One of her favourite dances was a contemporary ballet dance that was performed in honour of her dance school’s 45th anniversary. She remembers it as one of her last dances at the studio and personally felt the impact it had on herself and the family she had developed at the studio.
With any great talent there can come challenges. Kaili describes dance as a free form of art available to all but also says it has the ability to become physically challenging. Ballet specifically requires the artist to put work into every movement, no matter how skilled you are it requires a strong level of dedication and perseverance. Kaili’s dance career outside of school pushed her to face and preserve many difficulties. The new choreography and stretches required an able amount of endeavour and Kaili often found herself being pushed out of her comfort zone to try new styles of dance.
Outside of her passion of dance she credits piano, which she has taken since first grade for assisting her keen sense of rhythm and music. Her perspective and interpretation of music was and is greatly shaped by piano. Since the start of her dance career Kaili has also immersed herself in visual arts with a special focus on drawing and painting. She describes visual arts as a less active escape both in school and at home. “Visual art is another way of creating beautiful and meaningful pieces…”
Lastly, Kaili credits her diverse perspectives for influencing her long standing dance career; “My family has always loved to travel and I think the experience of travel has let me gain different perspectives of cultures as well as arts from around the world.” She states that being able to view dancing from different cultural points in the world has shone a unique light on her art. Her dad’s family celebrates Chinese New Year where Kaili’s love for dance is celebrated with the traditional Chinese Dances she loves to watch and relate to her own experiences.
“Dance is such a beautiful form of expression and movement, and as I’ve grown up with it, I’m constantly discovering new elements that make me love dance even more. I enjoy dancing because it allows me to share emotions and messages and stories with others without even involving words. Dance is so amazing because it’s this universal language that people of any background can understand and interpret in their own special way. I love dance not just because I love the challenge and movement and the art of the body communicating with connection to music, but because it holds so much meaning and so many stories waiting to be told.” - Kaili Chiang.