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Regan Shaw, shown with ballet director Regina Bogomolova, won honors at competition recently in Philadelphia.
Regan Shaw, 11, (foreground, left) participates in a dance class at Classical Ballet of Fredericksburg.
Classical Ballet of Fredericksburg's Regina Bogomolova (left) assists Regan Shaw. |
HAVING grown up
But recently, I got a chance to meet 11-year-old Regan Shaw of Spotsylvania County, who shared
She's a young ballet dancer whose recent achievement at a regional competition is an example of what can come from the kind of hard work that's way beyond what most young shortstops will put in at her age.
Shaw, a sixth-grader at Ni River Middle School, placed in the distinguished Top 12 of her age division at the Philadelphia regional competition of the Youth America Grand Prix International Ballet Competition.
Her high marks in two short dance programs--one mandatory and one put together with the help of staff at her home studio, Classical Ballet of Fredericksburg--also earned her an invitation to take part in the "New York City Intensives" dance training sessions held by YAGP in the spring.
Shaw, who's been dancing one way or another since she was 4, has been working with director Regina Bogomolova and other instructors at Classical Ballet of Fredericksburg for the past several years.
Classes at the center are based on the Russian School of Dance, which sets out a very structured course of instruction, training students in "the correct placement of head, arms, shoulders, hips, legs and feet from the first moment they enter class," the director said.
But none of that would matter if Regan didn't work hard: stretching, sweating and learning the positions, jumps and graceful movements that eventually become segments in ballet programs.
"I always look forward to going to dance," said Shaw, a typical kid who also enjoys talking to friends, studying history and looking forward to her next ballet production.
Some weeks, she'll put in 10 hours of practice over four days, then add more hours on the weekend if there's a studio production in the offing.
"I never have to nag or push her," said Regan's mom, Renee, who accompanied her daughter to Philadelphia. "She'll often tell me when it's time to go to class."
Regan still gets butterflies at major competitions like the one in Philadelphia that drew hundreds of dancers of all ages to one central stage just outside the city at Swarthmore College.
"My heart was pounding like crazy while I danced there," said Regan, whose pieces were filled with enough jumps to be a real workout. "But I think it went OK."
Bogomolova, who had two other students who also performed well at the competition, was thrilled when Shaw was judged in the top 12 of her age group among dancers from Virginia, Maryland, Washington, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
"This is a very big accomplishment at an extremely high-pressure competition," she said. "Regan competed in front of judges from as far away as St. Petersburg, Russia, as well as judges from New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and Alvin Ailey Dance Company."
The young dancer recently auditioned for the Kirov Academy of Ballet of Washington for their summer program, and is waiting to hear back on that.
Regan said she also looks forward to dancing in an upcoming production of "Giselle" May 8 and 9 at James Monroe High School.
"Practicing is work, but it's still fun to me."
Her attitude explains a great deal about why she's well on her way toward her goal of becoming a professional ballerina.
Rob Hedelt: 540/374-5415
Email: rhedelt@freelancestar.com
