Kaelyn Hager

Kaelyn Hager – Texas
Nomination by Kendra Hager
Photography by Fluid Frames Dance Photography
Issue 72 of Inspiring Teens Magazine
​

​Nomination: Kaelyn Hager is an inspiring teen because of her passion and perseverance. Kaelyn says that dancing is one of the most significant parts of who she is and will become. She sacrifices her free time balancing rigorous academics, extensive studio hours, school cheer and dance, and community performances. Her perseverance is impressive. From being told that black girls have poor feet and turnout to dealing with studio bullies, Kaelyn turned discouragement into accomplishments, dancing in a performance with Misty Copeland, receiving reassurance from Lauren Anderson, modeling for a favorite dancewear company, and participating in Summer Performing Arts with Juilliard.

Photography by Fluid Frames Dance Photography

​What inspiring things about you does your nomination not cover?
One inspiring thing my nomination does not mention is that even though I am still growing as a dancer, I have made people I don’t know feel proud and inspired. I’ve read comments like, “Your daughter is an inspiration to my mocha ballerina.” “I’m always happy seeing black girls do amazing things in dance.” “I see your daughter is still trailblazing in dance.” One supporter called my accomplishments “noteworthy” and “worthy of communal support.” I realize that what I do matters, even if, to me, it’s insignificant.

What else would you like to talk about?
I want to talk about my inspiration. I aim to major in commercial dance to become a professional dancer and studio owner. Pace and Berkley are my top schools for dance education. After several years at non-competing classical ballet studios, I pursued competition dance. Competing was short-lived during the pandemic, but studio owner Traci Greene inspired me to use my passion to serve the youth. Her non-profit provides dance scholarships and performance opportunities in Houston’s Urban Nutcracker. Assisting the minis at my home studio and teaching elementary students with my school cheer/dance team allow me to share my passion.

What do you feel passionate about or could talk about forever?
I’m passionate that dance is art, a sport, therapy, and my safe space. Being uneasy around too many people fades when I dance. I love performing and making the audience feel what I feel without speaking. Growing up in dance, I have experienced toxicity’s physical and psychological toll regarding hair, makeup, complexion, body type, feet, and more. My mom sheltered me, but as I matured in dance, I realized that my physical and mental health are essential to protecting my safe space. From bias to bullying, I encourage affected dancers to take control of their physical and mental health.

​​How did you find your photographer? What was your experience like? What did you love most about it?
Institute of Contemporary Dance, my home studio, used Fluid Frames Dance Photography to take company pictures last season. The experience with Fluid Frames was great, and they made the session relaxed and fun. I love that Fluid Frames printed my very first leap during the session. It was exciting to see my photo selected to be on the landing page for our gallery and the reel of my shoot posted on Instagram. Of all my photos, including dancewear photography, this is one of my favorite dance photos.

Why do you want to be in Inspiring Teens Magazine?
I want to be in Inspiring Teens Magazine because being included in this publication is an excellent opportunity to share my passion for dance, encourage others to use their gift to serve others, and advocate for mental and physical health. I appreciate my mom's nomination because she does so much for me, and I want to make my parents and my family proud. Thank you, Inspiring Teens Magazine, for this opportunity.

Tell us about your dance career.
I began ballet, jazz, and tap at two years old. I added pointe, modern, contemporary, and Horton over the years. I did competitive dance briefly, then performed with Houston Contemporary 2 at the Institute of Contemporary Dance for two years. I am focused on my collegiate and professional goals in commercial dance, filling in genre gaps and improving strength, flexibility, leaps, turns, and acro. I receive technical training at the Institute and dance education in collaboration with Juilliard at my high school, The Village School. Also, I enjoy my high school cheer, dance, and competitive dance teams.

What do you love most about dance?
What I love most about dance is it allows me to express myself without talking, almost as if it were another way to sign for everything I see, touch, hear, smell, and taste. Interpreting rhythmic, timed, sharp, smooth, loud, soft, swift, slow, emotional, and motionless movements is what I look forward to when performing. Dance is my therapy, escape, and more than my sport or artistic expression.

What genres do you study?
I study ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, and Horton primarily. Because I want to pursue commercial dance, I invest additional time learning different jazz styles, hip-hop, and street dance. I take tap occasionally, too. I would love to do acrodance again. I did acrodance and gymnastics for a year before a hurricane wiped out my gym. Recently, I have enjoyed other dance styles, such as African, Precision, Swing, and Salsa. I was introduced to Hustle, Carribean, Katherine Dunham, and Isadora Duncan dance styles this summer at my intensives.

Photography by Kendra Hager

​​Which is your favorite and why?
My favorite genre is jazz. I love Jazz Funk style. I am excited to master this style as I pursue commercial dance in college and professionally.

How did you start modeling for your favorite dancewear company?
Several months before I had a commercial photoshoot, I told my mom that I wanted to do dancewear modeling—unfortunately, the companies I wanted to model for only used models within driving distance intrastate. A few weeks passed, and I received an email from the education director at my studio from a local photographer looking for dancewear models for a commercial shoot for the dancewear company I wanted to model for. From the casting to the fittings to the hair, make-up, and photoshoot, the process was so fun, and seeing my pictures online and in the Weissman Elite catalog was exciting.

What is your studio like?
Institute of Contemporary Dance is a great community-oriented dance studio with outstanding, talented, and professional faculty. It provides many opportunities to grow as a dancer and explore new things in dance. I began virtually when the Institute opened during the pandemic, then attended in person and was invited to perform with its youth company, Houston Contemporary 2. I have grown technically and have been exposed to many professional performers, choreographers, and performance opportunities. From Lauren Anderson to Dance Theatre of Harlem, the exposure to the best in dance at the Institute is fantastic.

What was it like participating in Summer Performing Arts with Julliard?
The Summer Performing Arts with Julliard was an incredible eight hours daily for two weeks, dancing ballet, contemporary, jazz, modern, tap, and more with other dance majors worldwide. The intensive was eye-opening, with day one concert auditions and seminars about media, industry, college, career paths, voice, and Mythbusters. My favorite discussions were about nutrition and mental and physical health. We had partnering and social dance classes, private lessons, and master classes. I hung out with my teammate from school, made many new friends, and performed in the talent show. My teachers were excellent, making my closing concert performances a success.

What inspiring things about you does your nomination not cover?
One inspiring thing my nomination does not mention is that even though I am still growing as a dancer, I have made people I don’t know feel proud and inspired. I’ve read comments like, “Your daughter is an inspiration to my mocha ballerina.” “I’m always happy seeing black girls do amazing things in dance.” “I see your daughter is still trailblazing in dance.” One supporter called my accomplishments “noteworthy” and “worthy of communal support.” I realize that what I do matters, even if, to me, it’s insignificant.

What is the most interesting thing you've learned in school so far this year?
So far, the most interesting thing that I have learned in school this year is in Chemistry. Chemistry is not my favorite subject, but it challenges me to understand something I may see or do. It answers, “When will I ever use this in real life?” When discussing the projection of heat and cold when substances or chemicals are mixed, like how salt affects how water freezes, I thought about how my late great-grandmother made ice cream using slushy-like salt water to help the ice cream get thick and freeze.

What is the hardest class you are taking vs your favorite class?
My most challenging class is chemistry. Although I had taken Integrated Physics and Chemistry in middle school, science has been a complex subject because I am more interested in the labs and hands-on activities than the textbook. It becomes overwhelming, so I have to learn how to apply it to my everyday life, which is why Chemistry is the most interesting and challenging. Besides the obvious, my favorite class is Dance III because the curriculum and the choreography are challenging. I enjoy learning more about my passion and adding to my repertoire every day.

What is your cheer team like? What is your favorite memory with them?
Vikings Elite is a varsity cheer and nationally-ranked dance team coached by Tabitha Christy. I have been an Elite since 9th grade, and I’m a social officer. We cheer for all sports and dance during halftime. We are the spirit leaders of The Village School preschool - 12th grade. Also, we mentor our middle school cheer/dance team. We dance contemporary, lyrical, jazz, and hip-hop during competition season. Most of us have dance backgrounds, and some continue to dance in college. Team bonding is important to us, and my favorite memory is eating out before games and bonding over food.

If you had nothing to do and all day to do it, where would we find you?
If I had nothing to do and all day to do it, you would find me napping in bed or improving my flexibility and technique in my dance room at home. Getting enough rest is essential to my physical and mental health, and with the rigor of my academic and dance schedules, I appreciate any time to relax and sleep. During the pandemic, my parents created a room for me to dance in my virtual classes, so you would probably find me there, too, working towards my dance goals.

What is up next for you that you are super excited about?
I am super excited about performing in Houston’s Urban Nutcracker city-wide scholarship fundraiser produced by Culture Arts Initiative, Inc. for my fifth year. It’s a twist on the traditional Nutcracker, celebrating Houston’s diverse cultures through narration, acting, music, and many dance genres in addition to ballet. Also, I’m honored to be invited by Black Angels Collective to dance in their end-of-year production. Black Angels Collective is a company of technically trained dancers of color founded by Tobe Nwigwe in 2018. Lastly, I’m happy to begin preparing for competition season and Nationals with Vikings Elite, my school dance team.

What is the hardest thing you have ever accomplished, and how did you do it?
The hardest thing I have ever accomplished was surviving an environment that was not conducive to my success in dance and choosing to leave. At first, I believed that leaving would be surrendering or a sign of failure, but during my intensive with Juilliard this summer, I learned that preserving my well-being and future goals was a sign of maturity.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be where you are today?
I advise someone who wants to be where I am today to keep a healthy mindset and prioritize their physical and mental health. You can say no.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans?
In five years, I see myself at Pace University, majoring in commercial dance and a minor in business, auditioning and dancing in the industry, and working towards my professional goals.

What is your favorite activity or pastime that was not in your nomination?
A favorite activity of mine is creative writing. I have loved to write stories since elementary school, and I wish I had more time to write outside school. I have won several awards for my writing, including Scholastic Keys.

Do you have a hidden talent? What is it?
A hidden talent of mine is that I can sing. I’ve been singing ever since I could talk. My first solos were at school and church, and I have been in the school choir since elementary. Like dance, music and singing are also my great escapes.

3 Things on your bucket list
Three things on my bucket list are mastering tumbling because I like acro dance and gymnastics, becoming a pet owner because my family doesn’t have any, and becoming a successful dance studio owner to serve my community.

Who do you find inspiring?
I find Misty Copeland inspiring. I had the opportunity to dance on the same stage as her when I performed in “Cinderella.” Misty was the first famous ballerina I had ever heard of, and she looked like me.

Photography by Kendra Hager

​What about you inspires others/why do you think you are inspiring?
I don’t intentionally act to inspire anyone, but I understand that what I do matters and that someone is always watching me. From encouraging words to advice to redirections from others, I have concluded that as a young black female, representation, self-pride, and perseverance are important to making myself and my parents proud, and maybe that understanding is what truly resonates with others as inspiring.

Look for Kaelyn in issue 72 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

click here for more information on issue 72

click here to nominate an inspiring teen