Ella Hankinson is a 17-year-old dancer from New York. She dances at Tonawanda Dance Arts.
“Dance has made a positive impact on my life by teaching me discipline. Dance has taught me that only I can hold myself accountable. It has taught me that improvement comes solely from the work I put in.”
Tell us about your dance experience!
I started dancing when I was 4 years old. I always watched my older sister dance and said I wanted to do what she was doing. I started dancing competitively when I was 8 years old. Since then, I have trained in multiple styles such as ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, musical theater, acro, and pointe. Currently, I am an ambassador for The GuiDANCE Experience and also attend numerous conventions to learn from various choreographers.
How does dance have a positive impact on your life?
Dance has made a positive impact on my life by teaching me discipline. Dance has taught me that only I can hold myself accountable. It has taught me that improvement comes solely from the work I put in. Dance has also given me my best friends and it has shown me the type of people I want to surround myself with.
How do you want to use dance to have a positive impact on your community?
I want dance to have a positive impact on my community by demonstrating dance can improve mental health. I want the people in my community to know that dance can be a way to release any emotions you are feeling. It can be a way for people who don’t feel comfortable talking about their emotions to get what they are feeling off their chest.