Ella McCarthy’s summer vacation was likely much different from the one most kids her age experienced. The Wydown eighth-grader earned a spot at the Milwaukee Ballet’s prestigious summer intensive pre-professional program, which had her dancing six hours a day for six weeks. This was her second summer making it into the program, and she plans to audition for a similar experience somewhere else next year.
Dance has been a part of the 13-year-old’s routine since she was 3, and she knew early on it was something she was passionate about. “I started studying at COCA when I was 7 because I wanted better dance training,” she explains. “I enjoy the energy, and I like how you can convey different emotions into the piece you are performing and make it your own.”
Ella practices various styles of dance, including ballet, modern, jazz and musical theater, but she primarily focuses on ballet and modern. Of COCA’s three student dance companies, Ella is in two: Ballet Eclectica, which incorporates elements of classical and contemporary ballet, and COCAdance, which focuses on modern and jazz. Her dedication and talent earned her an invitation to COCA’s Honors Program, which requires students to put in additional practice hours each week and maintain an A/B average to graduate high school with an honors in dance.
With multiple performances throughout the year at the studio, practicing is a constant requirement for Ella, who dances every day of the week. “I just enjoy it; it’s not overwhelming to me,” she says. “But you do have to stay on top of things.” Such determination and passion will serve her well, as she has lofty goals for the future. “I would love to be a professional dancer in a contemporary ballet company, a fusion of modern and ballet.”
