Girl's dancing is more than a fling
West Jordan lass will compete in the world finals — again
Published: Friday, Sept. 1, 2006 12:00 a.m. MDT
WEST JORDAN — For Kelsey Crane, 16, dancing is more than a hobby — it's a way of life.
For the past 10 years the West Jordan High sophomore has been studying Scottish highland dance, and all her hard work has paid off as she captured her third consecutive championship title at this year's United States Inter-Regional Championships in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. on July 22.
Kelsey had to perform four different dances for the competition. To even get to nationals, she had first to be chosen as one of the top three dancers from her region, which includes six or seven states.
"It's very highly competitive, more competitive than you would think," Janine Crane, Kelsey's mother, said.
Kelsey's training routine is quite vigorous and involves practicing for at least an hour every day and building up her strength and endurance, especially in her arms and legs. Sometimes she plays the same music over and over again so she can catch the rhythm of the dance. She also must perfect her technique, she says.
The dancing is a combination of ballet and Irish dancing and involves jumping constantly, dancing on point and using technique. Complications arise in that Kelsey has asthma and must be careful not to overexert herself.
Kelsey's mother says dancing has improved her daughter's focus in all aspects of her life.
"As a parent, one of the things I like about it is that it's made her learn how to focus well," she said. "She's a very good student, keeping a 3.9 to 4.0 GPA, and I think it's because it's made her learn how to focus."
Kelsey agrees.
"I think dancing's made me a perfectionist so that if something's not good enough I always have to correct it, like in school, with being behind, I guess," she said.
Kelsey will be competing in the world finals for Scottish dancing in Cowal, Scotland, in a few months. The past few times she competed in the world championships, she captured one of the top six spots.
Every summer Kelsey goes to the Ohio School for the Arts and receives training from some of the top Scottish highland dancers in the world. This year her teacher was an 11-time world champion, and she felt grateful to have the chance to learn from her, she said. Her hard work has netted scholarships to help pay tuition so she can return to Ohio every year.
This year, Kelsey also passed her test, both written and practical, so she can teach Scottish dancing to younger dancers in her teacher's studio. Starting at only 10 years old, Kelsey would take a theory test every year, and this year she passed the final portions of the test.
Even with nine years of competition, three national championships and numerous other awards under her belt, Kelsey has no intention of quitting Scottish highland dancing.
"I want to keep doing it, I love going to the U.S. championships," she said. "I've made a lot of friendships through dancing. I really like it."
West Jordan lass will compete in the world finals — again
Published: Friday, Sept. 1, 2006 12:00 a.m. MDT
WEST JORDAN — For Kelsey Crane, 16, dancing is more than a hobby — it's a way of life.
For the past 10 years the West Jordan High sophomore has been studying Scottish highland dance, and all her hard work has paid off as she captured her third consecutive championship title at this year's United States Inter-Regional Championships in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. on July 22.
Kelsey had to perform four different dances for the competition. To even get to nationals, she had first to be chosen as one of the top three dancers from her region, which includes six or seven states.
"It's very highly competitive, more competitive than you would think," Janine Crane, Kelsey's mother, said.
Kelsey's training routine is quite vigorous and involves practicing for at least an hour every day and building up her strength and endurance, especially in her arms and legs. Sometimes she plays the same music over and over again so she can catch the rhythm of the dance. She also must perfect her technique, she says.
The dancing is a combination of ballet and Irish dancing and involves jumping constantly, dancing on point and using technique. Complications arise in that Kelsey has asthma and must be careful not to overexert herself.
Kelsey's mother says dancing has improved her daughter's focus in all aspects of her life.
"As a parent, one of the things I like about it is that it's made her learn how to focus well," she said. "She's a very good student, keeping a 3.9 to 4.0 GPA, and I think it's because it's made her learn how to focus."
Kelsey agrees.
"I think dancing's made me a perfectionist so that if something's not good enough I always have to correct it, like in school, with being behind, I guess," she said.
Kelsey will be competing in the world finals for Scottish dancing in Cowal, Scotland, in a few months. The past few times she competed in the world championships, she captured one of the top six spots.
Every summer Kelsey goes to the Ohio School for the Arts and receives training from some of the top Scottish highland dancers in the world. This year her teacher was an 11-time world champion, and she felt grateful to have the chance to learn from her, she said. Her hard work has netted scholarships to help pay tuition so she can return to Ohio every year.
This year, Kelsey also passed her test, both written and practical, so she can teach Scottish dancing to younger dancers in her teacher's studio. Starting at only 10 years old, Kelsey would take a theory test every year, and this year she passed the final portions of the test.
Even with nine years of competition, three national championships and numerous other awards under her belt, Kelsey has no intention of quitting Scottish highland dancing.
"I want to keep doing it, I love going to the U.S. championships," she said. "I've made a lot of friendships through dancing. I really like it."
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