Staying Light on Her Feet
Interview
At age 16, Hailey Roe is one of the most recognized dancers at The Dance Center of Bozeman. She is often found surrounded by younger dancers who enjoy her soft-spoken, steady presence in a chaotic studio.
Hailey started ballet at age six because her little sister was dancing and Hailey had serious costume envy. She has stayed with The Dance Center for the last ten years because of the family she has found there in the other dancers. She claims Miss Deborah (Yarrington) and Miss Anna (Hall) as her greatest mentors. Through them, she has developed leadership skills and the ability to express her self clearly. She really enjoys their philosophy of learning and respecting the technical aspects of dance while also giving equal appreciation to artistry and creativity. These skill have proven invaluable to her in school and her other endeavors.
While ballet is Hailey’s first love, modern dance is where she finds her passion these days. She performs 8 to 12 times a year through different classes and ensembles. She has dance many roles in the Nutcracker in a Nutshell, including the role of Clara, but her all-time favorite role was as the lead dancer in the Arabian scene. The modern choreography and mystical mood of that performance was the most fun Hailey says she’s had so far.
Hailey isn‘t just a dancer. She is also a dedicated violinist. The Emerson Cultural Center has become a second home. When she is not dancing there, she is in violin lessons. Most days she can be found in the halls of the Emerson doing homework before and in-between classes. Much of her time is also spent playing and dancing through the high school. When she graduates high school, she is hoping to head to college somewhere on the East Coast. She is currently studying Latin, psychology and economics with the thought or going in medicine or teaching.
Hailey is most interested in science, particular health science. Her mother is a veterinarian specializing innutrition and eastern treatments for animals. Hailey’s family raises sheep, goats, chickens, bees and all sorts of animals that they use for sustainable living. Her mother makes lotions and soaps from the sheep and goat milk, in addition to the eggs, honey wool and so on.
Her interest in science also took her to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands as part of a class trip with Mr. Anders. Aside from seeing natural history and science applied to a specialized environment in person, Hailey‘s fondest memories are of canoeing through the rainforest and hunting and eating grubs with local guides.
For inspiration she looks to Mia Moody, a fellow dancer who emulates a love of dance and happiness, Pete Seeger for being a true American and following his own path and lastly, Gandhi for patience and gentleness.
She is a busy girl, but Hailey enjoys being outdoors and taking hikes in the mountains or skiing with her family. She loves new experiences and finding new things to love. She recommends everyone try cliff jumping, at least once to feel a free fall. She also says you should be a part of a team, any team as long as it mixes people together in a way that brings them closer. Lastly, she says people need to try to meet one new person a day. It makes the world a little smaller and much friendlier.