Molly Boyce ‘17 has been at SAAS since 6th grade, and is recognized as an integral part of the dance program. She also dabbles in photography and visual arts. Molly began dancing with when she was five; her parents wanted her to try something new and she thought, “Why not?” Her commitment to dance has only increased since then, and really took off when she began her freshman year.
What has your dance career at SAAS looked like?
I was involved in the middle school dance group, but the high school program is much more comprehensive. It has exposed me to a lot more styles and feels more professional. I started in Advance Dance my freshman year and have participated every year since then.
Do you get to participate in competitions?
At the end of winter break there’s a convention, called Fluid, which we’re going to.
How much dance do you outside of school?
During the school year it’s hard to fit in extra classes, but when I do have time I take drop-in classes at Exit Space [in the Greenlake area] or Velocity [near SAAS].
Do you want to continue dance after high school?
I’m looking into colleges with more progressive and contemporary programs. I want to at least minor in dance since it is such an important part of my life. I am interested in possibly majoring in education or something else that allows me to interact with and help people.
What schools are you looking at?
I am interested in schools such as Skidmore, Middlebury, Connecticut College, Goucher, Simon Frasier (which is in Vancouver) and Amherst College.
Going back to dance at SAAS, how do you feel about the “advanced” programs at SAAS?
Being one of four freshman in Advanced Dance made me feel like I needed to be better and be as good as the seniors. Since the advanced classes are year-long, you get the opportunity to really know people. I especially appreciated being able to create close friendships with upperclassmen through it.
What’s different about your relationships with the people you dance with?
My relationships with people whom I dance with are much more physical than a lot of my other friendships. I am very comfortable around people I dance with even if we are not super close outside of the class. You have to trust people and be really vulnerable. Like most other groups, we are bonded by the shared interest, and lots of inside jokes.
What are some of your favorite dance memories?
I did a three-week intensive over the summer every night from 6-10, so I was working with a lot of different people. It was great to see how dance can fit into people’s lives even if they have a different day job. I learned a lot, being the youngest participant, about how dance has shaped so many other people’s lives. It reminded me that just because you’re not a professional dancer doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate it into your life.
Finally, what has dance taught you?
Dance is the most physical form of art. It’s really literal when people say, “It pushes you to your limit.” Being physically challenged, ending a class drenched in sweat, taught me how strong I am. It makes other things seem so much easier because I realize that I can always push myself harder than I ever thought.