Alexis Marasco

Alexis Marasco - Illinois
Nomination & Photography by
Kailey Kopel Photography / Konquer Dance Company
Issue 52 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Nomination: Alexis Marasco is an inspiring teen and a role model to others. She dances competitively at Konquer Dance Company and at her high school Carl Sandburg’s Varsity Eaglettes team. She is a black belt in taekwondo, Alexis received a 4.4/4.0 GPA, is on NHS, math honors Mu Alpha Theta member, and Spanish honors NSHS member. She was in the Joffrey Nutcracker as a Gingerbread Doll and a Lead Snow Tree Angel. She modeled for Revolution Dancewear, Curtain Call Dance Costumes, and American Girl. Alexis teaches adult tap, works with special needs kids, and is very dependable.
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Nomination & Photography by Kailey Kopel Photography / Konquer Dance Company

​Tell us about your dance career. How/when did you get started and what types of dance do you study?
I started dancing when I was four and my career took a slight pause when I was mentally abused by a dance coach at the age of 13. However, I didn’t want this to get the best of me, and I knew that I still had some passion for dance inside of me, so I went back to dance and it was the best decision of my life. I find all of my happiness in dancing and am so blessed to have dance as an escape. I study many different styles of dance: pointe, ballet, tap, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, pom, jazz, and musical theater. Personally, my favorite styles of dance are ballet and lyrical because I love to dance gracefully.

Tell us more about your dance studio and why you love it so much.
I love Konquer Dance Company more than words can explain. After pushing dance away for three years, I was very anxious to go back to dance and had such a strong resentment towards it for a long time. When I first came to Konquer, my whole perception of dance changed. Konquer has given me so many opportunities to help me associate dance with something positive again. The instructors are nothing short of amazing and my studio is a place where I feel so motivated to become a better dancer and version of myself.

What is the hardest thing about teaching tap, and what is the easiest?
I love teaching tap! I would say the hardest thing about teaching tap isn’t the fact I have a student who has special needs. The hardest thing about it is seeing the physical limitations my student goes through and just knowing if those hindrances weren’t there, my student would have a much easier time tapping. However, this is such a rewarding experience for me, watching my student grow each week. The easiest thing about teaching tap is that my student wants to be better at tap. She comes in every week after practicing the dances I teach her for hours and has such an amazing work ethic and even drive to get better; I see improvements in her skills every week and couldn’t be a more proud teacher.

What is your favorite type of dance and why?
While I love all styles of dance, my favorite type of dance would have to be ballet and lyrical because I love the elegance and gracefulness that comes with these styles. I feel such confidence while dancing these two styles and love the feeling of performing in these two styles.

What is a favorite dance competition and why?
My favorite dance competition would have to be Starbound Dance Competition because that was my last competition before taking a temporary pause from dance due to a mentally abusive coach. Not knowing what my future looked like with dance, I wanted to dance my very best, not for anybody else, but for myself. In doing this, my last national competition before my break ended with a national championship for my solo and I
couldn’t have been happier. At the same time, my sister also received a national championship for her solo in a different age group. It was amazing to share this experience with her!

What is a favorite accomplishment from dance?
Dance has blessed me with so many things. My favorite accomplishment from dance is becoming a two-time national champion with my solos. I have such a strong work ethic, and truly witnessing all of my hard work paying off made me so happy but winning two national championships for my solos was truly an indescribable, phenomenal experience.

What is Mu Alpha Theta and what are your roles and responsibilities as a member?
Mu Alpha Theta is a math honors society (similar to NHS, but for math). As a member, I have to complete 45 hours of community service in two years and maintain at least a 3.0/4.0 GPA to be a part of the club. Members must have completed the equivalent of two years of college preparatory mathematics. Since I have joined, I have donated my time by making Christmas baskets for homeless kids and have attended several meetings to be a part of making my community a community which gives back.

What things do you do in Spanish honors NSHS?
NSHS is like NHS, but for Spanish. When I grow up, my main goal is to become a high school Spanish teacher. For NSHS, all students need to obtain at least a 3.75 GPA and receive an A or better in Spanish class. Throughout this club, our main goal is to make Spanish more prevalent throughout our school and doing community service hours to give back to our community. With a heavy decline in Spanish, members are supposed to encourage other students to take Spanish for the educational and fun benefits it has!

How do you balance being a 4.4 student and all your other activities?
Being a 4.4/4.0 student with all my other activities is no piece of cake. For me, school will always come first and all of the activities I do are considered privileges. I strive to get all A’s. I manage to do so, but it is a ton of work. Since I am so busy with many different activities, I try to get as much schoolwork done on the weekends to fit my activities in during the week. I have also learned to manage time properly. As soon as I get home from school, I will do my work until I have an activity, then I will finish it after. Even though this is possible, it takes a lot of drive and motivation to do so.

What else would you most like to be interviewed about?
I would like to be interviewed about how the support of my family has made me who I am today. My father and mother work very hard to financially support my dream through dance classes, company and competition fees, dance clinics, dance conventions, and
travel to those events. At least one if not both of my parents always attend my dance performances. I have a younger sister who also dances, and we motivate each other to be the best versions of ourselves. I also have an Autistic brother who I have encouraged to take dance classes, and he loves it! He attends boys hip hop and tap at Konquer Dance.

What inspiring things about you does your nomination not cover?
I love to donate my time. I have far exceeded my service hours for school and a big part of that is helping on my brother's special needs baseball team. It really is a family effort. My father coaches, my sister also helps, and my mom cheers everyone on. I am so proud of all the players. It is so rewarding to see the smiles on their faces during a game. And they inspire me! They show up and try their best!

What has this experience taught you?
This experience of helping at my brother's special needs baseball games means the world to me. While many people take things for granted, it is not a guarantee to play sports, it is a privilege that some are denied. No matter how hard it gets, there is always something to be grateful for in everything. To watch these players come out and not let their limitations stop them, is awe inspiring.

If you were to present a topic to a group of your peers, what would it be and why?
My topic I would present to my peers is to do what you love. Go for it! Don't let others stop you in achieving your goals. Surround yourself with uplifting people/coaches/teachers and always give yourself positive self-talk. If you want it, you will find a way to achieve it! I have had people in my life I let interfere with my love for dance. I quit dance for 3 years. But I overcame my obstacles and came back stronger.

Nomination & Photography by Kailey Kopel Photography / Konquer Dance Company

What is the hardest thing you have ever accomplished, and how did you do it?
The hardest thing I have ever accomplished is maintaining straight A’s this year as a junior while being on a competitive dance company and on my high school’s varsity competitive poms team. I achieved this with time management, working ahead when I could on assignments, and sacrificing ample sleep some days to fit everything in. There’s only 24 hours in a day!

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be where you are today?
My advice would be to never give up, even if someone tells you that you are not good enough. Hard work pays off with whatever your goals are.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans?
In five years I will be graduating college. The goal is to be a high school Spanish teacher and that high school’s poms/orchesis coach.

What is your favorite activity or pastime that was not in your nomination?
When I am not at school, poms practice, or dance, I just enjoy chilling with friends and family. This doesn’t happen often, but when it does, I cherish it.

Do you have a hidden talent? What is it? I love to sing. I had a voice coach for years. I was in musicals/plays in junior high and high school. Unfortunately, with my schedule, I had to choose dance or theater when I started high school. So, dance was the path I chose.

3 Things on your bucket list
Be on a college dance team
Be fluent in Spanish
Become a 3-time national champion for my solo

Who do you find inspiring?
My dance teacher and poms coach I find inspiring. These two individuals motivate and teach in a way that makes me want to be my best version of myself.

What about you inspires others/why do you think you are inspiring?
I think I am inspiring because I am a well-balanced person. I get good grades, I am involved in activities, and still make time to have fun with friends and family.

Is there anything else you would like to tell us?
I attend Parkview Christian Church and love it! I have been going to the junior high and high school ministries for years. I have attended retreats through my church. I was asked to sing on their worship team, but I just couldn’t swing it with dance. That was disappointing for me because I really wanted to be more involved at church.

Look for Alexis in issue 52 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!
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click here for more information on issue 52

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