DANCE MAJORS

Savannah Lee Sickmon

Tampa, Florida

started dancing recreationally at the age of two, and began serious ballet training her freshman year of high school.  She has been in the dance program since summer of 2015, when she first began taking classes at FSU. 

I asked Savannah Lee a few questions about being a dance major at FSU:

Q: What influenced you to become a dance major?

A: I knew that I wanted to dance as a career, I got accepted into several training programs such as Joffrey but my dad wanted me to get an education. I didn’t think I wanted to be dancing anywhere but New York but after pondering about it for a little while I came to the realization that I’m not mature enough to be in New York City on my own. I have been going to all of the FSU football games since I was in my mom’s stomach so I already knew how much I loved the school. When I saw how beautiful the studios at FSU are I made my decision. 
Q: What was the audition process like?

A: I auditioned for the dance department not thinking I would be attending the school so I’d say for me it was a lot less nerve wracking than it may be for others. The audition started off by being split into two groups. One group went into a studio and waited for an hour while the other group took class. I was in the second group so I waited and stretched for about and hour and then was called into the studio for class with the rest of my group. We had a ballet barre and a few center combinations, nothing too difficult. Then we moved to the modern portion of the audition and did some center modern work and across the floor work, ending the class with some across the floor improvisation. I would say the most intimidating part of the audition is having about nine different dance professors watch you and jot down notes as they passed you at the barre. Once the class was finished we were taken to the third floor where we waited in the hallway to do our solos. I was the second to last person to go so I had waited about an hour to do my solo. You perform your solo in the studio in front of four professors and then they ask you one question. I forgot what my question was but it was something like “Why did you start dancing?” Then you go home and wait for a letter and hope that it says congratulations.
Q: What kind of curiculum is covered?

A: For every class the amount of material covered is immense but in dance professions we have discussed a lot about the dance world and the idea that it goes past just what is in Manhattan or LA as well as the fact that you can be in the dance industry and not necessarily be just a company member but that there is so much more to offer. In conditioning class we have covered a lot regarding the body and what muscles should and shouldn’t be activated and how to strengthen properly. Ballet and modern there has been a wide variety of material covered but every day we’re learning something new and finding new ways to explore the body. 
Q: What is your least favorite thing(s)/con(s) of being a dance major?

I’d say my least favorite thing is the amount of stress involved with being active in the program. There is so much to rehearse at all times and some days I start dancing at 9am and don’t get done until 10:30 pm. It’s exhausting and extremely stressful but even so it’s all worth it. 

Q: How much time do you spend dancing a week?

A: Nearly 30 hours.
Q: What do you plan to do after you graduate?

A: I would like to pursue my dancing in New York City on Broadway or maybe even on tour as a backup dancer to a popular artist.

I plan on auditioning for anything and everything and slowly finding my place in the dancer world whether that be as a dancer in a company or a film director for a company! We’ll see. 

Q: Do you have any achievements being in the dance program so far?

A: I have made two YouTube videos ready for publication and have been working with five different choreographers weekly as well as improving my ability daily in technique classes. 
Q: Was becoming a dance major worth it?

A: Yes.
Q: Is there anything else I should know about dance majors?

A: Everyone comes from a different background. Everyone has something they’re awesome at or not so awesome at. There is a lot of room for error since we are in a learning environment as well as a lot of room to excel. It’s hard being in a ballet class with people who have been doing hard-core ballet their whole lives. It’s tough work showing up every day. You have to REALLY love dance to be this committed. You have to be super driven to accept you’re exhaustion for what it is and keep going but it’s worth it and it’s a lot of fun to do what you love every day. 

Savannah Lee is a dear friend of mine that I met through a fellow dance team member from high school. Even though she is just a freshman, she expereinced some college life in Summer 2015. Hearing that dance majors spent nearly 30 hours in the studio excites me more than anything. I'd rather be in the studio than the classroom any day. I'm really excited to hear someone else's opinion on the program and that she thinks that becoming a dance major is worth it as a freshman. I'm excited to see where Savannah Lee goes here at the FSU School of Dance.