Reese Tyson is a 12-year-old dancer from Texas. She dances at T.J.’s Dance Factory.
“I want to show others that there is so much beauty in dance; it’s the perfect outlet for all shapes and sizes to come together to do something amazing.”
Tell us about your dance experience!
I originally started dance in a studio setting when I was 4 years old, but my mom tells me that I have ALWAYS danced even as a baby. I love how music can flow through you.
I started dance with my little sister. It was fun to do this together. She still dances and always wants to come to my competitions but doesn’t dance as much as I do.
We switched studios to another in Prescott Valley, AZ when I was 6. I LOVED it. My favorite style then was jazz.
At age 7, I tried out for their competition team and made it. For the next three years, I remained on the team in Arizona. I was also that studio’s youngest ever to get a solo at age 9 (just as COVID hit in 2020). During this time, we kept dancing even if it was virtually. I would constantly practice. When we were able to go back in person, that was AMAZING, but a lot of our conventions/competitions were canceled. At age 10, I was one of three in our studio that was asked to be in our advanced team’s contemporary dance. That was an honor and challenge to dance with the teens. At the end of that dance season, we moved to Texas. Actually, my parents and brother moved and my sister and I stayed in Arizona with our grandma, so that we could finish out our dance season for recital. That was a long month without my mom (and the first time ever she missed watching us dance).
Honestly, I was devastated because I was leaving dance (so I thought). But my mom promised me that she would find me another studio that I could still dance. I thought that was great but was also nervous because I still wanted to do competitions and knew that might not be an option because of our move. Literally 2 days after I arrived in our new city I went to my new studio to “give it a try”. I haven’t looked back since! That was summer of 2021.
Last summer, I also tried out for the studio’s team and was accepted on to an already established team. That again was an honor. There was a lot of skills that I didn’t know because it wasn’t a focus in our small-town dance company in AZ. I had a lot of catching up to do; I practiced every day and watched youtube videos to gain those skills; I asked my coaches/teachers to show me and kept practicing.
I love all styles of dance but my favorite are jazz and hip hop. My dream is to own a dance studio and to teach dance to others.
My parents allow me to dance but there are “rules.” I have to maintain excellent grades which I do.
How does dance have a positive impact on your life?
Dance allows me to use a positive outlet to channel all the negative aspects of life as a middle school-aged young girl. Growing up is hard, and when I dance I can release all of the tension of everyday issues.
How do you want to use dance to have a positive impact on your community?
I want to show others that there is so much beauty in dance; it’s the perfect outlet for all shapes and sizes to come together to do something amazing. I especially love showing my sister that there is so many ways to shine; she is my insipration.
