Waterford High School is home to a very diverse group of dancers. From ballet to hip-hop, there are many students who are part of local studios that offer everything in between. For these students, dancing isn’t a chore, it’s a lifestyle.

When asked why she dances, sophomore Kristyn Hanner, a member of Broadway Kids and Company, said “that’s like asking why I breathe. Dancing is the only thing that keeps me sane.”

Hanner has participated in various types of dance in the past 13 years.

Dancing does more for a person than only learning to do the choreography they are given. It helps to build character, confidence and skill.

“I learned that’s its okay to be myself and to not worry about what others think,” said junior Nataly Estrin, a student at The Dance Extension in New London.

For many, finding a balance between school, friends and dance can be difficult. Time management is hard to achieve but these dancers find a way to do so.

“My school work is affected a bit because I have to travel a lot for competitions, and some students don’t understand why I would spend so much time dancing or why I care so much about it, “ said MacKenzie Sullivan, a dancer on Envy, the senior hip-hop team at East Celebrity Elite.

The team recently competed at Worlds, where they were the defending 2010 and 2011 champions.

Being a dancer brings many responsibilities. Whether it be a team effort or solo, dancers pour their hearts into what they do.