Casey’s Story

Casey loves to dance.

She first tried dancing in a mommy-and-me ballet class as a two-year-old—and she hasn’t stopped since.

“I love that dance lets me express myself in different ways,” she says.

Now 15, Casey is an avid competitive dancer. This year, for example, she has 14 choreographed dances in her repertoire, including contemporary, hip hop, jazz, lyrical, musical theatre, and tap. While she loves the process of learning choreography and practising (25+ hours every week!), competitions and performances are what she loves most.

“The moment the music starts the nerves go away and I’m able to be in the moment,” she says. “Every time I get off stage, it’s like, ‘That was amazing. That felt so good!'”

That same positive feeling is one that she now gets to experience at school. But it wasn’t always that way.

Casey joined Rundle Academy in grade 7, and finally found a place where she felt comfortable, felt seen, and could learn confidently.

“Rundle Academy has given me the motivation to do well. I’ve learned how I learn differently than others,” she says. “Where I was before, I just felt like I was in a huge classroom alone. I was struggling and I couldn’t ask for help. Here, you know everyone, and you feel like you’re part of a community.”

She attributes that to the people at the Academy: the friends she’s made, and the supportive staff.

“The teachers make me feel connected. I know they care about me. They come into school every day with a smile on their face,” she says. “When I see that they want to be here, it makes me want to be here, too. They put enthusiasm into teaching and it makes it fun to learn.”