Name: Casey Sellers
Age: 12
Summer Intensive: Alonzo King LINES Ballet
Where are you from? I live in Springdale, MD but I am originally from Milwaukee, WI
Where do you dance and/or train during the year? Dance Institute of Washington and ZD Dance Academy
What made you decide to attend the LINES Summer Intensive?
I was awarded a scholarship through a Summer Intensive audition with the International Association of Blacks in Dance, and I have always wanted to go to LINES.
What was the audition like?
It was a virtual audition. I had to learn the choreography ahead of time and then perform it for a panel of people on Zoom. I couldn’t see all of the people on Zoom. I was very nervous during the process because I really wanted to get picked for the scholarship. There were a lot of emotions going around in my head.
Casey Sellers In the LINES Studio
Can you share with us what your housing/residential experience was like?
My mom and I stayed in the Bay area with a college friend and her family, and then we commuted for two weeks.
How was your level determined?
The level was pre-determined from the audition.
What classes did you take daily and what additional classes did you have throughout the week?
I took ballet and LINES repertoire every day. The other classes we had were contemporary, floorwork, movement exploration, and Horton Technique. My favorite class was the master class we took with Alonzo King the second week.
What was a typical day like?
We started at 10:00 am and ended at 4:00 pm each day. The classes were about 90 minutes, and we took 3 classes per day with a 45 minute lunch break.
Each day I had to get up at about 7:00 am to get ready. I had a 50 minute commute and we tried to get there 30 minutes early so I could have time to put my stuff away in my locker and get warmed up before ballet. There were three studio options, and each day we used a different one for all of our classes for the day.
How did you like being in San Francisco for the Summer? Do you have any suggestions of must-do activities/places to go for someone who may attend this intensive in the future?
I would say it was a very different experience being in San Francisco for the summer. I was able to go to the pier, and I tried a lot of different foods. One of the things I really enjoyed was riding the cable car and driving down Lombard Street, the world’s crookedest street.
Any words of wisdom from LINES teachers that you will carry with you throughout your dance career?
- Always take big steps.
- Art is inside of you.
- Be the shape.
- Use your mistakes to help guide you.
What were your most memorable moments of the intensive?
Taking class with Alonzo King, learning his original choreography in my repertoire class, and meeting very nice people from all over.
Any other fun things to share about the program?
The program will challenge and make you learn how to be quick on your feet. All of the staff were very nice and inviting.
