Meet Aleah | Binford Dance Company Feature | Year Five
The Binford Dance Company was established in 2016. It is an audition-based student dance company from Binford Middle School, an arts integrated school located in Richmond, VA. Company members study Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Improvisation, and Composition within the Binford dance program. The company has performed throughout the community including: The 2019 Superintendent’s State of the Schools Address, Generation Dream, Richmond Public Schools Fine Arts Festival, Strawberry Street Festival, Appomattox Regional Governor’s School for the Arts and Technology, Petersburg Home for Ladies, and Cedarfield Retirement Community. The company also had the opportunity to perform in the music videos “Have It All” and “Love Is Still The Answer” by Jason Mraz. The Binford Dance Company inspires students to find their own voice through performance and choreography while learning valuable skills in the rehearsal process including collaboration, respect, and confidence.
This year the company dancers chose a word and in studio executed their word through movement, costume and set color and design.
MEET ALEAH
LIBRA
Aleah 8th grade
My name is Aleah and I'm in 8th grade. This is my final year being at Binford and being in dance company. I love doing dances I see on the internet or being taught dances by my teacher, but I also love choreographing. Last year I got to create my own group dance and have other members perform it. This year I’m performing in a trio. As a student choreographer this year, I decided to do something different. I got the opportunity to not only be in a duet but to choreograph it with one of the other dancers. We had planned to create separate pieces but then had the idea to create a duet together and be the dancers for it.
Since this is my last year, I decided to go big with my photoshoot. This year's theme was decided by choosing your own word, I chose libra. Not only is it my actual astrological sign, but when it comes to dance I think it's a good word to describe me. Balance is one of the biggest properties in dance. The symbol represents me in many ways whether it's dance, my personality, or metaphorically. I've never done gymnastics before, but I'm great at balancing on my hands or any part of my body. I thought this was the perfect way to showcase my abilities balancing and flexibility. When I think of the word libra, I think of a scale, stars, the night sky, and sparkle. I combined all of my ideas and since we did headshots, I put a shimmer on my face and glitter to give it an intergalactic look. I actually used one of the old dance company dresses for my picture because I felt like it fit the word.
I’ve loved being in dance company for the last three years. It's taken me a long way in dance and I will continue to carry those memories with me. I've loved the experience since I auditioned in 6th grade and I'm going to miss being a part of one of the most amazing dance groups.
