social media as some of my friends were getting calls from Young Arts. I was extremely disappointed that I hadn’t received a call since Desmond was a Presidential Scholar, I felt like I let his choreography down. As I exited out of my texts, I saw that I had a voicemail from Miami, FL. At this point I started crying. I called them back and they told me that I was a finalist! I was able to share the good news and to celebrate with my Complexions family! It was the best night of my life!
LJ: How are you managing to keep up your studies at BTW and travel back and forth between Dallas and Atlanta?
WH: We actually have most of our rehearsals in New York, since the dancers haven’t moved to Atlanta yet. This is probably the most chal- lenging part of “my job.” It’s hard to get the motivation to do home- work when I come home from rehearsals, I’m usually really tired and just want to go to bed, but that is simply not an option. My Booker T teachers have been amazing though. Every one of them has been gra- ciously working with me to help keep my grades and assignments on track. I communicate with them each night via email or the web and turn in my assignments on the same schedule as the other students.
LJ: Do you have any advice you would like to share with aspir- ing young dancers?
Pictured: Whitney Hester being coached by Desmond Richardson of Complexions
student work so I was really excited when he agreed. Desmond was strolling through a small town in Russia and heard a band playing what would become my music. He told me that he immediately thought, “this music would be perfect for Whitney’s solo! “
When the Young Arts finalists were announced, I was in New York per- forming at the Joyce—it was actually opening night. I watched on
WH: Training is everything, especially ballet training. Complexions is a very technical company, they value strong technique as well as move- ment and passion. Two years ago, I enrolled at Dallas Ballet Center to supplement my training at Booker T;which was the best decision I could have made as I want a career in concert dance. I would encour- age dancers to really think about where they would like to end up working as a dancer and make sure their training will really help them achieve that goal.
DANCE! NORTH TEXAS
a publication of the dance council of north texas
vol. 19 • no. 1
www.thedancecouncil.org
Feb.-Apr. 2016
page 25
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