Confidence booster: Junior Abigail Truax takes dancing to a new level
It takes an athlete to dance, but an artist to be a dancer.
That is the perfect description of junior Abigail Truax. She began dancing in seventh grade. She started dancing a little bit later in the game, but she said that did not stop her from reaching her goals and succeeding.
Inspired by a church friend’s dance showcase, she knew this is what she wanted to do. “I was afraid of dance because it looked really difficult from my perspective in the audience of a showcase,” she said. “They were doing all kinds of lifts and tricks and turns and I didn’t know how to do any of it. I was also terrified of getting onstage in front of people in some of the wild costumes that I saw the dancers in. I didn’t have the confidence to get onstage in most of those, so it was scary thinking about getting under the lights in front of everyone.”
However, it didn’t take her long to learn the ropes and gain courage. “When I started dance, I was terrified to get anything wrong or to meet anyone new, but dance has helped to teach me that making mistakes helps you to learn,” said Truax. “Dance has allowed me to become much more confident and sure of myself. Little did I know that becoming more comfortable in my skin would benefit me in many other parts of my life.”
The confidence that she gained allowed her to pursue a variety of activities. “Dance is a very growing experience, something that can change you as a person for the better,” she said. “It benefited me because I was able to be more outspoken and to do public speaking in things like projects. Dance gave me a safe space to explore myself as different characters; and because of that, I became more sure of myself.”
For example, she played the part of a “Newsie” in The Biz Academy production of Newsies, a musical set in the boroughs of New York City in 1899. It is based on the true story of newsboys going on strike because the newspaper prices went up. During the production of their show, Truax met Jack Sippel, who was in the Broadway production (filmed for streaming on Disney Plus), as well as the original cast of Prom on Broadway.
The time management that she learned from participating in dance was especially helpful when she was working on Newsies. “On Sundays, I would go to rehearsal at around 12 or 12:30 and dance for Newsies until 5. Then, I would get in the car, eat some food as quickly as I could and be at my other dance from 5:30 until around 9. Then I would go home and stretch, roll out my muscles, and go to bed after doing homework.”
As much as she enjoys this activity, Truax believes she is going to continue doing it for a while. “I’ve stuck with dance because of the friendships I have made and just my enjoyment of the activity. Dance has allowed me to meet people that I wouldn’t have met otherwise, and form friendships that are extremely beneficial and uplifting. I stayed also because I really enjoy dance itself,” she said. “Dance is hard work, but it is work that is absolutely worth it.”
Story by Emma Moon