Dance is a sport many are driven to do. Dance is hard work, dedication and blisters. But ask a dancer, and they will say all the blood, sweat and tears are worth the experience and character that dance brings. They likely would encourage anyone to try it.

“I’ve just always chosen dance over other activities,” freshman Emerald Tori Larson said. “Dance is a sport you have to put effort into; you can’t sit on the sidelines. In dance, you have to be dedicated and driven, or you’ll never grow, as with anything.”

Dance requires hard work and dedication, from ballet to hip-hop, every dancer needs determination and drive to be successful.

“I can’t slack off when I dance,” said freshman Jocinda Wiehe who dances outside of school. “Dance isn’t even worth it if you don’t give it 100 percent.”

Larson said the determination she puts into dance reflects her as a person. Every bit of effort put into dance, she gets out of it.

“Though it may be time consuming, I’ve seen myself go to it for stress relief and self-expression. It’s shaped who I am as a person; I’ve gained new character. I’ve been able to recognize differences in all things and respect them,” said Larson.

Wiehe said it has taken her a lot of time to feel good about her dancing. It wasn’t something she picked up immediately, and there were many obstacles, like getting hurt, that she had to overcome.

“Dance can be one of the hardest sports to learn and cope with,” Wiehe said. “You get hurt and have tired dancers’ feet, but it’s worth it.”

Through challenges athletes grow.

“There’s always going to be challenges along the way,” Larson said. “Sometimes it’ll be easy, but if you’ve set your mind on it and do it because you want to do it, you’ll love it. Stick with it.”

Wiehe said that it will take up a lot of your time and make you angry at times, but she has learned from those experiences.

“I’ve learned to make the best of it because I love it. Even things you love make you angry,” Wiehe said.