Haly Doucette-Kaplan is a 13-year-old dancer from Massachusetts. She dances at New England Dance Centers.
“Dance has given me the ability to set goals for myself, have a drive to succeed, be a part of a team, make new friends, and never give up! …nothing prepares you for life’s ups and downs like competitive dance.”
Tell us about your dance experience!
I have been dancing since the age of 3, so 11 years now, being trained in many types of dance—ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, acro, tap, and musical theater. I have been competing on a dance team since the age of 5, so for 9 years, and competing in solos also since the age of 7, so for 7 years. The three studios I trained in all focused on different types of dance, but were all amazing experiences and had such talented teachers! I love to be challenged and continue to grow as a dancer. Right now I’m on the highest level dance team in the studio, dance with high schoolers/seniors. I have learned so much as an eighth grader from my peers with more experience than me. I feel you should never stop learning and growing not only as a dancer, but in life.
How does dance have a positive impact on your life?
Dance has given me the ability to set goals for myself, have a drive to succeed, be a part of a team, make new friends, and never give up! The confidence I have gained, being up on a stage in front of hundreds of people, is hard to achieve through other activities…I love to perform for an audience, but also for myself—that I can achieve something beautiful with friends, that was not easy, that moved others watching—is just an amazing gift.
How do you want to use dance to have a positive impact on your community?
Dance is one way to express yourself or a story being told. It gives a confidence and grace that no other sport can do. I know because throughout life I have been on softball, field hockey, basketball, gymnastics, and fencing teams. Nothing prepares you for life’s ups and downs like competitive dance. I want to share that with others.
