It can be easy to get discouraged as a dancer! Having someone to look up to can inspire you to become the best dancer you can be. These five young dancers started in the studio and went on to accomplish many different things in the dance world from major performances to teaching YOU.
Use their stories as inspiration to chase your own dance dreams!
Briar Nolet
Canadian dancer, actress, and artist Briar Nolet grew up a competitive dancer and eventually made her way to TV in The Next Step. At 16 years old, Briad was diagnosed with epilepsy. She knew that her dance worsened her condition, but she didn’t let that knowledge stop her from doing what she loves most. Briar found a way to keep dancing through lifestyle changes and medication, taking on big jobs like competing on Season 3 of NBC’s World of Dance and touring with Jennifer Lopez. Briar is an absolute powerhouse known for jumps and tricks (partially inspired by her three-time Olympic gymnast).
Kaycee Rice
From Dance Moms to America’s Got Talent to NBC’s World of Dance, Kaycee Rice has an impressive resume for only being 19 years old. Kaycee danced in the 2015 Super Bowl halftime show and performed a solo on The Queen Latifah Show in 2013. She has been on TV, in commercials, and taught classes with some of the best dancers and choreographers in the industry. The emotions that Kaycee shows when she dances are unmatched and are really what make all the choreography she dances that much better.
Sean Lew
Sean Lew is a dancer as well as a choreographer. While Sean often choreographs his own project, he has worked for major stars like Justin Bieber whose “At Least For Now” music video he choreographed. Sean competed on Season 1 and 2 of NBC’s World of Dance, making it to the Divisional Finals in Season 2 with his partner and best friend Kaycee Rice. Sean’s self-directed dance film II: An Unspoken Narrative debuted last year with lots of praise. Oh, and he appeared on Glee in 2010 at just 8 years old! A true creative, Sean is a fantastic example of dedication to your art.
Diego Pasillas
One third of MDC3, the Season 4 winner of NBC’s World of Dance, Diego Pasillas is a dancer to watch. One of the founders of MDC3 studio alongside Emma Mather and Madison Smith, Diego currently dances and defies gravity with incredible tricks such as variations of aerials. Diego also danced for Derek Hough in Derek’s No Limit show. Diego is a dancer who knows how to chase his own dreams and create incredible art with others.
Sophia Lucia
Sophia Lucia set the Guinness World Record holder for 55 consecutive pirouettes when she was only 10 years old (in tap shoes!). Sophia is also known for appearing on Dance Moms. Sophia is also an actress, she starred in Hallmark’s A Nutcracker Christmas and has appeared on multiple TV shows including Shake it Up, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and more. Recently, Sophia has traveled around the world teaching what she loves most, dance. The style that she teaches is her own technique method called RAFT.
