Meet Annika | 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 ANNIKA
CONFIDENT
Annika 6th grade
Hello, I’m Annika and I have been dancing for a few years. My dance journey started when I was 6 years old. I went to my older cousin's dance performance at James River High School. I was in awe as I watched the dancers flow and glide like it was nothing. That’s when I knew I had to start dancing. At the age of 7 I finally joined my first ballet class and fell in love, the feeling of the ballet slippers against the taped floor. After my class ended I watched as the dancers older and better than me performed and I knew that if I wanted to look like them, I had to work and work to get where they are, and I did. From there I spent days at the studio practicing and perfecting the littlest moves to make sure I looked okay. Then I had my first performance, the first time I ever stepped onto a stage, and I felt exhilarated throughout my body and then I did it. I just danced and before I knew it I was done and I did amazing. Ever since that night, I was in love with the feeling of being on stage and the sound of loud cheering if I did a surprising trick. I have been dancing ever since. Before I knew it I got accepted into a dance company which was the best thing that has ever happened to me. Binford gives so many opportunities and great chances at succeeding in middle school, I couldn't be more grateful.
The word I chose was confident. I chose this to match my personality. Being confident is a key detail to dance. When I hear the word confident I think of strong, mentally and physically, and that's when I knew I had to choose it to show my work, my strength, and everything I have been through to get where I am now. All the aches and pains, blisters and cuts. I know I might not be the best but I surely hope to keep excelling and succeeding.
Choreography means the world to me, I think it’s so important to share ideas and hopes. For people to listen to them and perform your visions perfectly is the best feeling. Every choreographed piece I have been in has been so fun and creative, even if it’s about the end of the world or about the famous movie Grease, every dance has a little touch of personality and feeling mixed into it and that’s what's so special. I personally haven’t choreographed a big piece but I cannot wait for that day to come. I have had so many inspirations around me and people who help me grow, so hopefully that process will be easy. I plan on making beautiful pieces I can and will call my own, and to show my creativity and art through those pieces. Art is the best part of dance, to create and show.
