Second Place Winner:  Ashley Taylor
11th Grade
April, 2006

My experience at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center to see the New Jersey Ballet perform was one that I will never forget.  On the evening of April 6th, as I walked through the tall glass doors, accompanied with my fellow classmates, I knew that I was in for a treat.

For the past three years, I have had the opportunity and the honor to visit NJPAC to see the ballet.  So, as I stood in line to receive my ticket, butterflies filled my stomach.  I didn’t have butterflies because I was nervous, but because of the anticipation of seeing what I knew was going to be a great performance.

Attending a performing arts high school gives me a chance to have an open mind to all genres of art.  Although dance is not something that sparked my interest, I could NOT fall asleep…even if I tried.

The many different costumes and color schemes kept me at the edge of my seat during the entire performance.  The music, mixed with the dark greens and the pastel pinks, was at times so dark and mysterious and at other times so melodious and happy.

This performance has enriched my life because although I’m not a performance major at school and I don’t have the desire to become one, I appreciate dance.  Seeing this ballet, I realize that you don’t have to be an expert at something to appreciate it.

Ballet should be made accessible to children to keep the cycle going.  When the dancers of New Jersey Ballet complete their dancing career, who will be there to follow in their footsteps and finish what they started?  By exposing the art of ballet to children, they will be drawn to dance and will be willing to keep the cycle going.

The arts are so important, especially in today’s society because of how strong art has become.  Within communities all over the world, children are growing up with the arts; learning the arts and taking the arts to a new level.

In closing, NJ Ballet’s performance was one that I will never forget.  I admire the dancers and their great talent and it was an honor for me to be a part of the audience.

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