Senior Emma Quaroni has danced ballet for over 15 years, making her one of Redwood’s most committed and devoted athletes. Dancing has had a large influence on Quaroni’s life, since starting at the young age of just three years old. Since then, Quaroni has solidified herself as a one-of-a-kind dancer.
Quaroni was unaware of the unique impact that dance would eventually have on her life.
“I don’t even remember how I started [dancing],” Quaroni said. “My mom danced in her teenage years, and I think that’s why she put me into dance classes, and I have stuck with it since then,” Quaroni said.
Twirling her way to success, Quaroni has been participating in the infamous Nutcracker ballet since she was just a second grader. In this show, she found her passion for dancing and has showcased her skills in this performance for about 10 years.
“In second grade, I did my first production of the Nutcracker, and that’s when I really started falling in love with performing, getting into costume and getting to work with a big group of dancers,” Quaroni said. “After my first show of the Nutcracker, I kept going year after year until I reached where I am now in my final year.”
Currently, Quaroni is preparing to dance as the Sugar Plum Fairy in her final showcase of the Nutcracker, her hardest role yet. Her instructor Corrine Jonas of Marin Ballet, stated that Quaroni was the unanimous choice to dance as the Sugar Plum Fairy.
Quaroni’s talents set her apart from her peers as she clearly has earned a deep respect and trust from her teachers to fill such a crucial and physically demanding role.
“The Sugar Plum Fairy has the hardest variation to me,” Quaroni said. “Ballet is a subjective sport. Some dancers may find turns really hard, while other dancers might find jumps really hard. But for me, this is the most challenging role, and I’m excited to master it.”
That being said, Quaroni acknowledges that ballet is very physically and mentally demanding.
“[Dance is] very self-critical and 90 percent of the time I am being critiqued on my technique. Staring at myself for three hours each day in a leotard, trying to perfect how I perform, can be mentally challenging,” Quaroni said.
Quaroni has put countless hours and over 15 years of dedication towards ballet, doing whatever it takes to perform at her best.
“It’s a commitment. I spend five days a week and three hours a day dancing on average. For Nutcracker rehearsals, I’m dancing all day on Saturdays,” Quaroni said.
Quaroni’s efforts have not gone unnoticed, as Jonas emphasized that Quaroni is one of the hardest-working students that Marin Ballet has ever seen.
“I have had the pleasure of teaching [Quaroni] for about eight years now. To see her grow and how far she has progressed is thrilling,” Jonas said. “It was clear that [Quaroni] had such a natural ability and talent, but also love for dance at such a young age.”
Quaroni is the only Redwood student dancing at her level, which makes her stand out more than anyone. While dance may not be as popular as a sport like football or basketball at Redwood, Quaroni separates herself as an athlete by practicing a unique skillset that most athletes do not require.
“Ballet is a blend of artistry and athleticism, which is not found in any other sport. That is how I set myself apart from what other athletes do,” Quaroni said.
Quaroni is recognized for her substantial dancing skills, as well as her humanity.
“Her dedication to her art form and her real positive attitude fuels her to be as great as she is and to get to this moment that every little girl dreams of, being selected to dance as the Sugar Plum Fairy,” Jonas said.
Ballet requires many skills that most sports do not demand, making it very difficult to master to the extent that Quaroni has achieved.
“Ballet isn’t a sport where results are immediate,” Quaroni said. “I’ve been doing this for 15 years, and it has taken a really long time and a lot of effort to get to where I am and become the Sugar Plum Fairy,” Quaroni said.
Ballet is unique because not everyone has the same skill set as the person next to them. It can be hard and take an especially long time to master different skills that make somebody an elite dancer.
Quaroni attributes her skills to her repetitive and demanding routines that she uses to understand her body and its capabilities.
“Learning how to use your body and dance in the boundaries of the skillset you are naturally given can take a long time to develop, making dance one of the most physically demanding and challenging sports,” Quaroni said.
Quaroni follows a mindset where improvement is always attainable with the right instruction and commitment to her craft.
“It’s visibly noticeable that she loves what she does. To dance with the poise she does and the eagerness to learn and grow, along with her confidence, truly demonstrates that dancing comes from a place of joy and purity,” Jonas said. “Her love for ballet is clear; she gives 100 percent of her effort at the minimum, something she could only do if she truly loves what she does.”
