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Redwood Bark

The great divide of special education: the 504 plan
The great divide of special education: the 504 plan
Nina Howard March 28, 2024

As of 2018, up to one in four students at elite colleges were considered legally disabled due to mental health issues, learning differences or...

Sophomore Mimi Wood darts toward the goal holding the ball.
Girls’ varsity lacrosse conquers Terra Linda in blowout match
Larkin Moffett March 26, 2024

On March 26, the girls’ varsity lacrosse team went head-to-head with Terra Linda High School (TL) in a blowout Marin County Athletic League...

Incoming juniors and seniors can simultaneously take a history course and Advanced Placement African American Studies (Photo by Lauren Poulin).
Diverse perspectives: Redwood set to launch Advanced Placement African American Studies
Emily Garcia March 26, 2024

Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, the Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies course will officially be launched and offered...

Senior diverts from everyday pressures through dance

Lights down, first position. Lights up, action. Senior Cameron Ely leaps across the stage, flying through the air with ease. Time stands still, for Ely is in the moment, and the moment is all that matters.

Ely began his dancing career in fifth grade after watching the movie, Step Up 2: The Streets, and fell in love with the art immediately. Although he initially pursued hip-hop and break dance, he later integrated other styles such as ballet, modern, jazz and contemporary dance.

“Dance has provided a way for me to express myself and who I am, in not only a physical way, but an emotional way as well,” Ely said in a phone interview.

Dance presents him with an escape from daily stresses, according to Ely.

“I’ve had actual experiences where I’ll have a horrible day or something seriously bad would’ve happened and I would have gotten into the studio and for the few hours that I’m in there, everything just melts away. My focus is just on what I am doing in that moment,” Ely said.

Senior Cameron Ely performing dance upon stage.
Senior Cameron Ely performing dance on stage.

Ely is currently dancing at the RoCo Dance studio in Mill Valley and has attended classes there for his entire dance career. He has also danced with the ODC Dance Company in San Francisco, Monsters of Hip-Hop, The Joffrey Ballet, University of Michigan and Bates College. He spends on average five hours per day in the RoCo studio, according to Ely. His schedule ranges from five to seven days dancing per week, depending on rehearsal schedules.

Through countless hours of practice and performance, Ely has decided to pursue dance further as a career. He is looking into Bachelor in Fine Arts (BFA) programs in college.

As he strives to develop into a skillful professional, Ely has also become closer to his fellow dancers.

“My dance life is my social life. I am in a company, and those are my friends, those are my familyI am always with them,” Ely said.

Although he has bonded with many of his peers through dance, the sport has also taught him to be his own person and be proud of his passion and what he loves to do.

“The dance world has taught me [that] no matter where you are put, no matter what situation you are in, you should always feel proud of yourself and what you have accomplished,” Ely said.

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About the Contributor
Sabine Lloyd, Former Staff
Sabine Lloyd is a senior copy editor for the Redwood Bark. She enjoys playing the cello, hiking, baking, traveling and spending time with friends.