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THE LEAF | FRIDAY, SEPT. 29 | SHSLEAF.ORG
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Students display vast artistic talents LILA ENGLANDER assignment editor
TAYLOR CLOSE staff writer
ADHITI CHUNDUR
Talia Bailes senior
staff writer
SARAH HORNE staff writer
MEGHAN DIGIOVANNA staff writer
Sam Wyrick senior
She started dancing when she was three years old. She currently dances 14 hours a week. A lifelong student of classical ballet, Bailes recently started learning contemporary ballet. “I like contemporary because I just started it, but I’ve grown up with classical ballet so I prefer it. Classical ballet is so poised, it’s harder, I like the challenge,” Bailes said. “I like working for hours on a triple pirouette and then actually doing it, or leaving really sweaty because it means I worked really hard.” Bailes contradicts traditional views of ballet. “A lot of people think ballet is really easy and princess-y, but it’s for the hardcore people. Many dancers become great things because they learn dedication and hard work.” Years of dedication resulted in many added benefits. “It’s so much easier to stand up in front of a crowd or public speak or express yourself anywhere because you have so much more confidence and poise. I also definitely learned time management skills,” Bailes said. In college, Bailes plans to minor in dance or ballet. With much to balance, Bailes maintains an optimistic perspective. “I definitely think women can have it all. I want to be a doctor. My mom is getting her PhD next week and she got it while my sister and I were growing up. So I think it’s definitely possible if you make the time.”
Photo Courtesy of Sam Wyrick
Q: When did you start playing guitar? A: 8th grade. I just started messing around with an old guitar I found in the basement. Q: How often do you practice? A: It varies, usually 30 minutes to an hour a day. Q: Why do you spend all this time with your guitar? A: I love practicing because with each step it unlocks doors to exciting to skills and opportunities for me.
Caleb Francis junior
Photo courtesy of Caleb Francis
Paint, dance, sing, act
THE LEAF | FRIDAY, SEPT. 29 | SHSLEAF.ORG
Q: Why is art important to you? A: Art is important to me since it has become a big part of my life and my identity. Also, I have found it to be a great way to relieve stress. Q: What is your favorite artistic creation? A: My self-portrait I made with oil pants. It is the longest piece I have ever worked on but I feel it reflects both my dark and light side. Q: How is your art inspired? A: I get my inspiration from small parts of life that are often overlooked. Q: Is art in your future? A: I plan on going to college for fine arts after high school.
Kate McNamara-Marsland freshman
“I like playing the piano because it really helps during school to relieve stress,” freshman Karen Idelman said.
Since a young age, Kate McNamaraMarsland has expressed her love for theatre. At Symmes Elementary, she participated in Symmes Players and was involved in the junior high school’s theatre program throughout her seventh and eighth grade. In seventh grade, McNamara-Marsland participated in choir and the school musical, “The Little Mermaid,” where she played one of Ariel’s sisters. “When I was a seventh grader I was looking up to a lot of the eighth graders and thought it would be so cool to get a lead in a show,” McNamaraMarsland said. In her eighth grade year McNamara-Marsland participated in both choir and show choir. She also starred as Annie in the school’s production of the musical “Annie Jr.” “It was really cool [to star in Annie] I really like singing and it was cool to get to sing by myself in a lot of songs,” McNamara-Marsland said. Now a freshman, she takes an acting class as well as choir and voice lessons on her own. Next year she hopes to join an extracurricular choir and participate in future theatre productions. “I really like my intro to acting class… and I’m really excited to be in “Shrek” because all of the High School plays are really great,” McNamaraMarsland said.
Image by Lila Englander Photo courtesy of Kate McNamara-Marsland