Name: Alicia Yang
School: MIT
Favorite Dance Move: Firebird Variation

How Has Dance Changed Your Life: "Dance has taught me how to express myself, showed me the power of teamwork, and given me a way to relieve stress. I could not imagine my life without dance."
Personal Quote: “Fear regret more than failure. Don’t hesitate to try new things, and chase even your smallest hopes and dreams”

Name: Katelyn Tseng
School: UC IrvineFavorite Dance Move: Leaps

How Has Dance Changed Your Life: "I have been able to gain different perspectives on my life and the world around me that I wouldn’t have been able to experience without dance. The various ups and downs throughout my dance career have helped to shape me into the person I am today."

Name: Jocelyn Lo
School: UCSB
Favorite Dance Move: Leaps and A La Secondes

How Has Dance Changed Your Life: "Dance changed my life by teaching me how to express my feelings and energy without having to use any words."

Name: Emily Lee
School: UC Irvine
Favorite Dance Move: Pencil turn into a front leg turn

How Has Dance Changed Your Life:
"Dance has given me the opportunity to truly push my limits not only physically, but mentally. The person I am dancing in the studio is the person I wish I could be all the time. The passion, love, and confidence I have in myself and everyone in the studio fills me with a constant sense of happiness and encouragement to strive to be the best version of myself. I’m grateful dance has shaped me into the person I am today, and that’s why I plan on continuing dance throughout college and hopefully even after that."

Personal Quote:
“Every time you fall is just another chance for you to decide what kind of a person you want to be. Be someone that you would look up to because that’s when you create your best identity.”

Name: Alyssa Chen
School: UC Irvine
Favorite Dance Move: A La Seconde

How Has Dance Changed Your Life:"It helps me express creativity!"

Personal Quote:“Sorry, can’t, I have dance.”

Name: Milly Ma
School: University of Miami
Favorite Dance Move: Layout

Name: Elaine Chan
School: University of Rochester
Favorite Dance Move: Attitude turn

How Has Dance Changed Your Life: "From classes to competition, dance has taught me a deep appreciation for my own body, culture, and heritage and cultivated my ability to tell stories through art. Growing up with dance for the past 14 years has been especially transformative, and dance will always be an integral part of my identity."

Personal Quote: “Dance is the shortcut to happiness!”

Name: Joyce Shen
School: Georgia Tech
Favorite Dance Move: Firewheel
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How Has Dance Changed Your Life: "I realized that exercise could be fun!"
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Personal Quote: “Sometimes the smallest things take up the most space in your heart.”

Name: Annie Zhang
School: UC Santa Cruz
Favorite Dance Move: Yun Shou

How Has Dance Changed Your Life: "Dance has been a very comforting constant in my life. It was fun to push myself at my own speed  and see what I could learn and do. I have made a lot of memories here; I’ll definitely be sad to leave this place and can only hope I’ll find something similar in my future."

Name: Iris Bai
School: UCLA
Favorite Dance Move: Pirouettes

How Has Dance Changed Your Life:
"Dance has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, so I don’t really know how it has changed my life, but I know that I wouldn’t be complete without it. It gives me a break from everything that goes on in my life, and it’s where I’ve met some of my best friends."

Personal Quote:
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind."

Name: Emily Chang
School: UC Davis
Favorite Dance Move: Turns

How Has Dance Changed Your Life: "I've learned that there is no substitute for hard work, and putting in effort to the best of your own personal abilities is the most anyone can do. The rest is up to chance, but at least you'll know you can be proud of yourself."

Personal Quote: "Your perception of reality reveals more about you than it does about the situation. There's beauty everywhere if you know where to look!"

Name: Fendy Gao
School: University of Chicago
Favorite Dance Move: Front somersault body roll

How Has Dance Changed Your Life: "Dance has not only taught me focus and discipline, but also how to connect to an audience. I love performing and I always cherish every moment that I have onstage to tell the audience a story, and share with them my culture."

Personal Quote: "It sounds cliche, but you truly only regret the things you didn't do. So grab the opportunities you want- the worst restrictions are the ones we put on ourselves."

Name: Kelly Leu
School: UCLA
Favorite Dance Move: Attitude

How Has Dance Changed Your Life: "Dance is a place to forget about the stresses in life."

Personal Quote: "Live like there's no tomorrow, but of course don't be too wild."