>
Rachel Cornell
Rachel is an 18-year-old senior at South Carolina Connections Academy (SCCA). She lives in Elgin, South Carolina. Rachel is a talented ballerina whose dream is to “be successful in wherever life takes me." She says, "I would love to dance in a great company but mainly just to be able to inspire people with whatever I do." Her mother tells her story below.
“Rachel's dance journey began at the age of four at the neighborhood recreation center. Her teacher, Miss Karen, made dance so fun and she had a ball learning ballet and tap. Miss Karen saw something in Rachel and recommended a more challenging dance environment. Rachel attended try outs with the Southern Strutt dance program, was accepted and danced there for one year. It was a good experience dancing at Basketball games but it was also a challenge for her family as they drove such long distances to the studio every day. This led us to look for a studio closer to home.
Rachel found a home with the SC Performing Arts Studio and a long time relationship with Ms. Kim Langely. She was challenged and excelled in lyrical, jazz, tap and ballet. She performed in National competitions and dance became her life. Ms. Kim's studio closed down and the search for new dance venue was on. Well, she was on the road again, but this time to Columbia Conservatory of Dance under the direction of William Starrett and Mariclaire Miranda. They are well known for their ballet program and to have a chance in becoming a great dancer you need ballet as a strong foundation.
She began with the Columbia Conservatory taking two classes a week. Within a short time was required to take more advanced ballet, lyrical, jazz and tap classes. After one year Rachel auditioned for the pre-professional dance company and was selected. She began preparing for competitions, rehearsals for the four major ballets performed each year. She took advanced classes that required her to be at the studio five to six days a week.
As Rachel transitioned into high school the dance schedule and some traveling became too difficult to do both. However, she consistently remained an A/B Honors student in all of her academic work. During Rachel’s first semester of her sophomore year of high school we learned about Connections Academy’s online high school program.
SCCA opened the door for Rachel to continue pursuing her dreams of being a dancer. She enrolled the second semester of her sophomore year with SCCA to see if her academic schedule and dance routine could find a better balance. Rachel has always been a self starter and the fit worked well.
With the encouragement of many of her dance teachers, Rachel auditioned with the Columbia City Ballet’s professional dance company and was offered her first dance contract for the 2010–11 season. She recently performed in the ballet "Dracula" and is now in rehearsals for the "Nutcracker", which is performed at the Kroger Center in Columbia.
She dances from 9am–3:30pm, five-days-a-week preparing for the company's four yearly ballets. In addition, she still keeps up with dance classes at night. She also performs in other school venues for the community outreach program that the ballet company supports. It is still a big challenge balancing academics and dance but the wonderful thing is how supportive the SCCA teachers are in helping Rachel attain her scholastic goals as she experiences the thrill of her life as a professional dancer with the Columbia City Ballet."