‘Dance is freedom to me’

Scarlett Colón, a sixth grader at Warwick Valley Middle School, has been dancing since she was just two years old. Now, ten years later, her passion and dedication are leading her all the way to New York City.

Earlier this month, Scarlett was accepted into the renowned School of American Ballet’s (SAB) weeklong summer program on a scholarship. To put that in perspective, the highly selective SAB summer programs have an acceptance rate of roughly 10-15 percent. The rigorous training program will have her in the studio from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day.

“I’m nervous but also really excited,” she said. “SAB is one of the biggest programs you can get into, so this is a huge step for me.”

A dedicated dancer at the Warwick Center for the Performing Arts, Scarlett specializes in ballet but maintains a keen appreciation for many other styles.

“I do contemporary, tap, lyrical and jazz,” she explained. “Dance is freedom to me. Each style is unique. Ballet is very technical, but with genres like contemporary, I get to create my own movement.”

Acceptance into SAB isn’t Scarlett’s only achievement this summer; she also earned a spot in the New Jersey Ballet’s summer intensive, adding another prestigious opportunity to her already busy schedule.

Balancing school and dance can be challenging, especially with upcoming performances in May and June. Scarlett currently attends practices nearly every day after school, from 3:30 until 8:30 p.m.

Even with such a demanding schedule, she makes time for other musical pursuits, including playing violin and ukulele as well as singing.

Recently, Scarlett performed “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” with a friend during the Ukulele Club’s sold out charity concert, helping raise $8,000 for The Children’s Heart Foundation.

Academically, Scarlett excels as a mentor in WVMS’s Multi-Age Classroom (MAC) program, having transitioned from the Partners in Education program in elementary school.

In MAC, she mentors a fifth grade student, guiding her through schoolwork and projects.

“I love helping younger students,” she said. “It’s nice because it’s not just going to your teacher; it’s going to a friend who can help you.”

Currently, MAC students are working on designing their own town with sustainable resources, a creative approach that blends science with environmental awareness.

Scarlett is not just a mentor at school but also at home. As the oldest of three girls, she often dances with her younger sisters, Kennedy and Emerson.

“My little sister Kennedy makes up dances with me in the living room. Emerson sometimes joins too, but she gets mad when I try to fix her posture,” she shrugged.

Like any performer, Scarlett sometimes experiences nerves. At a recent competition, her dance teacher advised her to close her eyes and visualize her performance on stage.

“That really helped, especially because at this competition, the judges were sitting really close,” she said.

Scarlett also offered her own advice for aspiring dancers:

“Don’t let anybody tear you down. If someone tells you that you don’t know what you’re doing, ignore them. Only listen to your dance teacher.”

Looking ahead, Scarlett hopes to attend SAB’s five week summer program next year. Singing and acting are also on her radar, but wherever life takes her, music and movement will continue to inspire her.

She also is thankful for her family’s support, especially during long competition days.

“Thank you, mom and dad, for letting me do all these things,” she said, “and to my sisters, who are always cheering me on.