Dance is an art that many use for improving self-esteem and confidence. This form of art leads people to express themselves in ways words can’t. For junior I’bri Beck, this has become the case with just two years of dancing.
Beck is a second-year captain on the dance team who strives and continues to show great dedication to what she does. Despite the absence of a coach figure in the past few months, Beck organized and taught the dance routine recently seen in the winter pep rally.
“I started the routine in November after we found out we didn’t have a coach anymore because I didn’t want the season to end,” Beck said.
Beck considers her efforts in creating the routine as one of her biggest accomplishments while on the dance team.
“Honestly, the biggest accomplishment was how good the pep rally went,” Beck said. “The odds were literally against us and me specifically, but everyone loved it, even social media, so I’m very proud of myself and the girls.”
Christina Savala, a sophomore on the Warren Central dance team, said that Beck had been talking to their team group chat since October about how to keep the program going. The pep rally was their first performance in months.
“It felt really nerve wracking because a lot had happened since our last performance, and we just hadn't been on the floor performing in so many months,” Savala said. “But after performing and hearing the crowd be so loud, I was really proud and happy that I did it.”
Savala considers Beck an inspirational leader.
“Although I’bri was only 16 doing all this for our dance team, she was always enthusiastic, coming in with an open mind, and most of all determined,” Savala said. “Since she was the captain last year, she does have some prior experience, but I would say for doing it with no help from any coaches at all, she did really great.”
Beck never really considered participating in dance in her past.
“I always thought I wanted to cheer, but I never really thought about dance besides musicals,” she said. “I used to watch and dance along with them.”
What helped Beck take the step and find her passion in dance was the relationship with her teacher, who was then the coach of the team, Jazzmine Anderson.
“She’d been my math teacher and my college preparation teacher, and she always, I think, had a soft spot for me,” Beck said. “She was really good at encouraging me to never give up or doubt myself.”
Because of dance, Beck has been able to find a new passion and place where she belonged.
“I never really fit in too well, so I’ve always kind of stuck out like a sore thumb,” Beck said. “To be a part of something was really good, and honestly, it boosted my confidence so much. If you can get in front of a crowd of people and perform, you can literally do anything.”
Dance has also led to Beck creating rare and unforgettable relationships with her teammates.
“I’ve generally made good friends,” Beck said. “I feel like the ones this year see me as a big sister since I teach them a lot. I also do their hair sometimes, and we talk about home life, and I give them good advice. I’m really grateful for their patience and determination this year as well.”
Just two years ago, Beck didn’t know a passion for dance existed inside her, but it has since reshaped her vision for her future.
“I'm going to dance for an HBCU majorette team, if not multiple, and I’m also going to own my own dance studio,” Beck said.