by Aly West

Emma Jenkins is the quintessential face of dance. A junior at Bellbrook High School, she does jazz, lyrical, contemporary, ballet, pointe, hiphop, and tap dance styles at Bellbrook Dance Academy. She also specifically competes in jazz, lyrical, and contemporary dance. 

“I love dancing because it’s a mix of athleticism and art,” Jenkins said. “It gives me a great opportunity to express my emotions in a healthy way. Through dance, I’ve met so many influential people and really bonded with my dance team.”

But two sophomores at Bellbrook High School also compete in various dance styles that are not as commonly recognized.

Venus Aggarwal has danced and competed in Bollywood dancing since she was 3. She chose to participate in Bollywood so she could learn more about her culture since she doesn’t live in India.

“Bollywood is more what you will see in Hindi movies and is very common,” Aggarwal said. “American dances would be like hip-hop and jazz-funk. Dances in India are very different. The dance itself focuses on forms and movements practiced with an emphasis on effortlessness.”

Other categories of Bollywood include classical and bhangra. Classical has many different costumes and movements. Bhanga is mainly danced in Punjab and is upbeat.

Delaney Dine devotes her free time on the weekdays to Irish dancing. She has been dancing since she was 3 and started Irish dancing when she was 6. 

“I started dancing because I saw these amazing dancers at a restaurant in Florida and my mom found a class for me to try out after,” Dine said. “I’ve been Irish dancing ever since then.”

Irish dancing has rigid forms compared to more traditional dance styles. The main difference is the community that surrounds it.

Dine had the opportunity to travel to Ireland to compete in Irish dancing. “There are first a series of competitions before going to All Irelands, including Oireachtas, then Nationals, and finally Worlds,” Dine said. “You must be selected by your dance instructor to be able to attend All Irelands. It is very prestigious and some of the best dancers in the world go there.”

Dine competed in Treble Jig and Slip Jig in the U15 girls category at All Irelands. “I felt I danced as well as I could and I loved it there,” Dine said. “It was one of the most rewarding things I have ever done, and most exciting. It is like a magical memory that I will never forget.”