Sophomore Alice Ferrer began dancing at just three years old and now spends 17 hours a week training at her dance studio, Classical Ballet Academy. Despite the long hours, she continues to love and stay passionate about dance. 

“I like my sport because it fits me physically and mentally, and so I feel like it just hits a good balance,” she said.

Ferrer practices four styles of dance — hip hop, contemporary, jazz, and ballet — and of those four, she favors the first two the most.

Despite hearing that many people believe that dance isn’t a real sport compared to others seen as more physically demanding, she continues to believe it is both physically and mentally challenging.

Ferrer said she and her team have grown close through the countless hours spent practicing, performing, and hanging out together. Onstage, they encourage one another by congratulating each other or saying “good luck.” When off stage, she said they help each other improve by offering feedback and reminders.

Ferrer’s biggest mentor is her dad, who she describes as very hardworking. He encourages her to be the same and to work hard for what she wants.

However, she has learned the difference between being hardworking and pushing herself too hard — in the past, Ferrer has struggled with ankle and knee injuries from her sport. In order to recover from challenges like this, she relies on rest, prayer, and taking care of herself. 

“It’s hard when you really want to do something but you can’t, but get some prayer and just take care of yourself,” she said.

Ferrer has methods to take care of herself when she’s dancing as well. Before each performance, she gets a Rebel from Dutch Bros and spends time with her team listening to music that pumps them up.

Though she gets nervous before performing, Ferrer said she pushes through it onstage and finds a place where she “locks in,” feeling relief and joy once it’s over.

Additionally, her team has a backstage ritual to help calm them down right before performances. They all hold hands, squeezing when they breathe in and relaxing when they breathe out.

Her coaches and teammates constantly help push her to be her best, she explained, which creates a strong community and support system.

“My coaches are really supportive and my friends are all the same,” she said. “They’re happy when I do good things.”

Outside of the studio, Ferrer has found a similarly supportive community at La Salle.

Her favorite teacher is her Yearbook teacher, Director of Community and Student Leadership Mr. Quinn Peoples, describing him as someone who is easy to talk to, fun, and well organized. In particular, she’s grateful for the effort he puts into helping students.

“When you have a question for him, if he doesn’t know, he actually goes and finds the information for you,” she said.

She believes that in general, the teachers and students here at La Salle all encourage her academically. This support is one of the reasons she decided to come to La Salle.

“I wanted a place where I felt supported academically and where other people around me also wanted to [be pushed] academically,” she said.

Beyond academics, Ferrer said she appreciates La Salle for its healthy social environment, and that as a whole, she has enjoyed her time here.

“It’s a good community,” she said. “The teachers are pretty supportive, and I found a pretty good group of people too.”