Elli Kate Beale

Elli Kate Beale - Ohio
Nomination by Tami Beale
Photography by 12.9 Photography
Issue 49 of Inspiring Teens Magazine
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​Nomination: Elli Kate inspires me daily with her loving, caring heart. Her dedication to all things dance. Her work ethic. Her life goals. Her passion for life. Her kindness towards others. Her ability to handle the stress of the pandemic, while keeping her grades intact. Life has thrown her some bumps in the road, but she keeps putting one foot in front of the other, with her head held high. You’re on your way sweet girl.

Photography by 12.9 Photography

What would you most like to be interviewed about?
My life goals. I am currently enrolled in my school’s Early Child Education program (ECE). This program gives me the opportunity to work in classrooms as an assistant teacher in my district. Currently I am working with a preschool class for this semester, and I am loving it! This program is furthering my joy for working with kids and is preparing me for my future! I am very excited to grow through this program and continue this path into college!


What do you love most about working with preschool kids?
I love how open the kids are. The 3-5 year olds have only known a life in the pandemic. This means going to school is an even bigger deal than ever. Most of them didn't know what life was like around other people, so getting to be a new figure in their life is so amazing. Most of them have no filter which honestly is so funny because they just tell you things very straight up. Even thought my school system has only been in the 2021-11 school year for about a month, the growth and progress made by these kids is insane. There is one specific kid who is very reserved and quiet, but this week he has conquered many challenges. Even simple tasks such as: putting his backpack on the hook, putting his folder away in the folder bin, and writing his name on the white board. He walked into class this week very confident and got all his tasks done. Another thing I love about these kids is their personalities. They are all different, but they complement each other very well. Most of them walk into class with the biggest smile on their face and keep such a great attitude throughout class. One girl, that I have built such a great relationship with, always says "Always stand back up when you fall, because why stay sitting?". I love that quote because she lives by that motto that her parents taught her and she shares it with the other students.


What age kids would you like to work with in the future and why?
I would like to work with 7-8 year olds because I feel like that age group is very smart and they are so open to learning new things.


What dance company are you a part of? Tell us about it.
While I am not part of my school's dance team, I am a part of The Centerville Dance Company. Company gives me the opportunity to still be part of the school’s dance curriculum! This is my 3rd year in the dance program, and I love everyone involved! Because I am a Junior, I get the opportunity to create my own group piece this year that will be performed for one of our semester concerts! Overall, this program has been such a growing experience and is the reason I have many of the friends I have today!

What inspiring things about you does your nomination not cover?
During the week while I’m dancing, working, and doing school, I student assist at my dance studio! I go to Joyce Dalton Davidson dance studio and they are my second family! I have grown up there and I will always find comfort being at the studio. I student assist because just like the Early Child Education program I am in with my school, it gives me the opportunity to learn from the teachers perspective. This is currently my 4th year and I have enjoyed working with the kids very much!

Tell us about the dance conventions you've attended.
Along with student assisting, I spend some of my weekends out of town at dance conventions! These events challenge me and help me grow as a dancer!
Some dance conventions I have attended include: Nuvo, Radix, Dance Makers, and 24/7. What I love about them the most is that I get to meet and learn from professional teachers who have worked with outstanding performers and who are outstanding themselves! Every teacher has a different teaching style and perspective on the way the body can move. These experiences stretch the way I perform and create movements. Conventions also broaden my experience in different dance styles. Conventions give me the opportunity to experience what it’s like to be at an audition as well! I have been recognized at almost all the conventions I have been to and I have been awarded scholarships to different dance experiences in California! Conventions overall are such fun, educational opportunities for me to grow as a dancer!

What is it like to be a model for 12.9 Dance? What do you love most about working with them and what has been your favorite photo shoot so far?
I actually joined 12.9 through 2 of my close friends from school! Maria Kirkland is very open and she gives us many opportunities to do group sessions to get close with the other ambassadors! I love the community of dancers and the different representation of body types! The most recent photo shoot I did was a powder photo shoot that was taken at night. That was such a fun experience, and we got some really cool photos from that session!

If you were to present a topic to a group of your peers, what would it be and why?
Because of the past year and a half with the virus, I became very quiet around others. When school started earlier in August, I made the decision I was going to change that. On about the third day of school, I was told there was an opportunity to become the Dance representative for the Junior class in the dance program I am a part of at Centerville. My class was told that if we wanted, we could give a speech to the class the next day. All I could think about was that this was a great opportunity to achieve that promise to myself that I was putting myself out there and be more outgoing. I decided to audio record my speech and create a dance to perform in front of the class. This felt like a bold move, but I felt so strong about the idea that I went through with it. The day of the speech, I went first. I got up, played my speech on the speakers, and started dancing. I finished the performance and everyone loved it! Now, because I made that promise to myself about being more outgoing, I am the Junior representative for The Centerville Dance Company!

What is the hardest thing you have ever accomplished, and how did you do it?
One of the toughest physical and mental things I have every done and accomplished was becoming a lifeguard. You wouldn't think it would be that hard, but even the pre-skills was a challenge. I have never been a long distance swimmer or a swim team swimmer, so even the 300m swim warm up was difficult. My instructor, who I was lucky enough to know well, helped me with extra swim lessons and was the main reason I gained confidence to take the course and the tests. I am very appreciative of my instructor and the experience of being a lifeguard.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be where you are today?
As my mom always told me, "Keep putting one foot in front of the other". Sometimes in life you won't be where you want to be and it can be hard to imagine getting through a tough spot in life, but all you can do is be yourself and put your best self forward. What happens a lot of times for me is that I will wish for the time to pass past a rough spot, but then I will regret not seeing the positives in the negatives afterwards.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans?
Hopefully 5 years from now I will be in my 3rd year of college, studying Early Child Education and Dance. I see myself being in good health mentally and physically. I hope to be continuing my good academics and spending my time well. I see myself enjoying the moment and creating new relationships with others!

What is your favorite activity or pastime that was not in your nomination?
I enjoy spending my time with my family and friends. My mom and I have a very strong relationship and I love getting to spend my extra time with her! I also really genuinely enjoy going to a cafe with friends or just by myself and doing schoolwork. Something about getting my work done with time and effort is really rewarding to me.

Do you have a hidden talent? What is it?
The only hidden talent I have is crossing my eyes, but with only one side. (lol).

3 Things on your bucket list
1. Travel out of the US
2. Raise kids
3. Get a job I will never loose a passion for.

Who do you find inspiring?
My parents. Especially my mom because she is very inspiring to me because she has been through so many unimaginable experiences in her life and yet she is here every day for me and my family. At one point in my life, she worked 3 jobs, and still took care of my siblings and I. Her mom sadly isn't here with us today and I she misses her every day. She inspires me to enjoy every moment I have. I didn't get to meet my grandma, but I know my mom works hard to make her proud (which she does). I believe my mom is in many ways like her mother, so in a way I do get to know some of what she was like. You never know when your last moment will be, so you might as well make the most of what you got and live your life to the fullest potential.

What about you inspires others/why do you think you are inspiring?
I think I am inspiring because I have never been the best at what I do, but I put so much effort into everything. A lot of people go for the straight ahead path, where I tend to see things differently.

Look for Elli Kate in issue 49 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

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click here for more information on issue 49

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