It is 2022 and, as a nation, we are more divided than ever before. We have Critical Race Theory, gender dysphoria, inflation running rampant and a never ending discussion about voting rights and the outcome of the 2020 election. Amidst all the chaos and the discussions on social media … as well as TicToc and Twitter, Instagram and other social media sites … there emerges a real life story of a young woman, a Generation Z woman, who from a very young age told us all, you see I know her personally, that she wanted to be a ballerina.
Now, most will say “Ok … I too have a daughter that wanted to be a ballerina and she went to ballet school and then she moved on to gymnastics and then soccer …”
But, this young lady declined the gymnastics, and while her friends were kicking each other in the shins, she was developing a work ethic that would make a Drill Sergeant envious. And despite both Mom and Dad working full time and an older brother with his own needs, she trained. She demanded Mom get her to the dance studio for her training. When her classmates were cooking up a trip to Ocean City, she trained. As she grew older and her skills improved, she was selected for supporting parts in the famous “Nutcracker Ballet” at Christmas time. Through the years, she performed as the Sugarplum Fairy, Snow Queen, Clara and when younger, danced in the Snow and Waltz Corps.
And when all the Christmas season performances had passed, she trained. And all the training was beginning to pay off. She was spending 25-30 hours a week training in pointe and character. She performed Swanhilda in Coppelia and as well, Sleeping Beauty. And all this, while a full-time student right through middle school. Like most teenage girls, she had her friends and her cell phone; but, first and foremost, she had her art. And her art was getting noticed. Intensive summer training with the Royal Dutch Ballet, Open World Dance Foundation in both New York and Russia is also on her resume.
Next, it was time for high school and there were some family decisions to be made. The decision was made to allow her to chase her dream … so it was off to the Nutmeg Conservatory in Connecticut. Dance in the morning and high school studies in the afternoon. And, in the summer … well, no beach time for the Gen Z’er … Zurich, Switzerland was on her agenda. No back packing across Europe. It was intensive training focused on Ballet Zurich repertoire and original works by William Forsythe. From there, on to Prague in the Czech Republic for 2 additional weeks of training and home to Richmond, Virginia for four more weeks with the Richmond Ballet. Forty hours a week – that’s what the art demanded. The good news was that she was allowed to sleep on the long flight across the Atlantic – some airline rule about no dancing in the aisles when the drink cart is out.
It's Christmas of 2021 at the Nutmeg. COVID is somewhat under control and the dancers are trying out for their roles in “The Nutcracker.” So, did all that training pay off? You bet it did! And on opening night at the Warner Theater in Torrington, Connecticut, our star was allowed to shine brightly.
Our Gen Z’er was given the starring role. Not a Prima Ballerina just yet, but clearly on her way.
High school does not last forever and it is approaching time to graduate. Time to make your bones in the real world. So, in a flurry of resume sending and calendar booking for auditions, our Ballerina gets a call. It is the ballet company of Barcelona, Spain. Would she accept a contract to come to Barcelona to continue her development as a ballerina? After some family consultation and deep, deep introspection by Mom and Dad, the answer was YES!
So our ballerina is off to Spain at the end of the school year to start her life as a full time artist. And as for Mom --- well, we will just have to keep feeding her wine ‘til the troop comes to dance on the stage of the Kennedy Center.
Congratulations to Emma Kathryn Sapp, Gen Z’er – she is an inspiration to all of us and most especially, other Gen Z’ers. She shows all who know her what can be achieved by hard work – chasing a dream and edging closer to it every day. BRAVO!