For Bear River High School junior Hailey Heer, dance has always been part of her life for as long as she can remember. What started as something she tried when she was little eventually turned into something she wanted to pursue in the future. She started when she was 3-years old after her mom encouraged her to try it, since she “wanted to dance when she was younger but wasn't able to.”
What began as a childhood activity slowly became something much more serious. Even after trying other sports she said, "it's never really stuck with me the way dance has.”
It wasn’t till her freshman year that Heer started to see dance as something she could pursue long-term.
“I didn’t realize that it was something that I would actually want to do for the rest of my life until probably freshman year during Career Choices," she explained. From that point on, dance became more than just an interest, it became a goal.
That goal recently led her to the Fluid Dance Convention, where she auditioned for a $60,000 scholarship to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Dancers were taught a combination and performed it in small groups while judges watched closely.
“We were taught a dance combination and then we just had to do it in smaller groups,” she said.
At the time, she wasn’t expecting much. “I wasn’t expecting to get anything, I wasn't really paying the closest attention,” she said.
When her name got called, everything shifted in an instant.
“All of a sudden I heard my name and like everyone started screaming and my heart was racing,” she said. Stepping on stage to accept the scholarship made the moment feel real. “I just burst into tears because I was so happy.”
Heer said part of what makes her stand out is her facial expressions and body language. “Whenever I dance, I find a way to tell stories without words,” she said.
Her teammate, Mei Lee, describes Heer as someone who brings a lot of energy to the studio. “I would describe her as a very encouraging and entertaining person to dance with, “ Lee said.
Lee said Heer’s passion is what stands out most. “I think what stands out most about her is her passion and love for dance.”
She also credited Heer’s dedication as a key part of her success. “I think her talent and also her commitment to dance allowed her to earn a scholarship.”
Even with her success, dance hasn’t always been easy. One of the biggest challenges she’s faced is negativity from others. “People try to make me feel like I am not as good as I think I am,” she said. Instead of letting that discourage her, she uses it as motivation. “The more haters I have, the more confident I am in myself.”
When it comes to performing, nerves are always there, but so are her friends, “What makes it so much fun is being with my friends,” she said. “When my friends are there it helps so much.”
Now, Heer is preparing for her next chapter of her life, attending AMDA on the scholarship she earned. She plans to continue developing her dance training at the college level while pushing herself out of her comfort zone and meeting new people. “I really want to step out of my comfort zone,” she said. Her long-term dream is still evolving, but she hopes to pursue a career in dance, potentially performing professionally on cruise ships in the future.
