Elliana Poledica is a 10-year-old dancer from Ohio. She dances at Natalie’s Dance Company.
“Dance gives me structure and discipline. It shows me how to be a part of a team no matter how big or small your role may be.”
Tell us about your dance experience!
My dance experience started when I was 3. I took regular dance for one year before deciding to start my competition dance journey. I am on the National Competition Team at Natalie’s Dance Company. I do solos, trios, groups, and lines each year! I take the following types of dance: jazz, hip hop, ballet, contemporary, tap, and acro. I love dance because it has brought me the best friends in the entire world. My dance family is my family. I love all my dance sisters and am so thankful for them and their support. I’m sure it wasn’t easy having a “friend that didn’t talk” for a few years. But I believe dance helped me in my Selective Mutism/anxiety because I am now fully verbal with all of my dance friends. Now I just have to work up to my teachers. The studio is my home away from home and when I’m not there you can probably find me at one of my dance bestie’s houses!
How does dance have a positive impact on your life?
Dance has an amazing positive impact on every aspect of my life! It helps to keep me physically fit and engaged with my body. Dance gives me structure and discipline. It shows me how to be a part of a team no matter how big or small your role may be. Dance has impacted me so much beyond the actual dancing and the stage. It has broken me out of a very silent shell of the little me who talked to no one. Dance has even helped me gain confidence to speak on the microphone at my school when I made it into the spelling bee! Dance keeps me working hard so I can continue to travel new places with the best of friends and my dance family!
How do you want to use dance to have a positive impact on your community?
I want to use dance to give others courage if they feel weak or scared. I want to be a positive role model for other young dancers or anyone who might want to try dance that if you have a little faith in yourself and keep listening to those around you, you can do anything you set your mind to!
