Ava is a 4^th grader at Jefferson Elementary School in Elmhurst, IL. She has been dancing since she was 18 months old! Her mom and dad quickly saw her love for music and dancing, even when there was no music on. She took her first ballet class at A Fairytale Ballet and hasn’t stopped moving since! Her early dance career was fostered by wonderful influences and great experiences, and she found her way to Extensions this year. While this transition has by far been the most difficult decisions she has had to endure, she is ecstatic to be a part of this company and continue her journey of fulfilling her dance dreams to be on Broadway! In 2019, Ava was cast as a Little Snowflake in the Joffrey Ballets’ “The Nutcracker.” She has also won multiple awards and recognitions over the last several years for her stage presence, and overall solo performances. There isn’t a dance genre that Ava doesn’t love, but Ballet holds her heart. The effort to create something to look so graceful provides her with an inviting challenge! When Ava is on stage, she says she focusses intensely on her performance.  She thinks of how hard she can push her body and do the best she knows she can do. She thinks about covering the stage with her dance, pointing her toes, lengthening her arms and controlling her moves. The feelings the stage give her are like no other, she is a true performer!   Ava knows she has so much more to learn and receive from this beautiful art. She believes she is in the perfect place for that with Extensions. If Ava could go back in time, she would tell herself not to focus so much on the challenge, but to stop and enjoy the moment. Once it’s gone you will not get it back! 

When Ava is not dancing, which is very rare, you can find her enjoying a chocolate chip frappuccino from Starbucks while watching any Star Wars movie in the series! She loves waking up on a Sunday morning to the smell of her moms’ homemade sauce, but even more eating the homemade lasagna that the sauce is for! She watches and learns so she can do the same for her family in the future. It can get difficult balancing dance and life but Ava tries to get as much rest as she can and to eat all the healthy things her parents give her. She makes sure to get her homework done as soon as it’s assigned. This gives her time to do other things she enjoys, like rollerblading, skateboarding, playing driveway hockey, or just chilling with a good book. Ava loves spending time with her little brothers. They are so funny and make her really happy, they call themselves a tiny tribe. When schedules get really tough, she reminds herself of her family moto, “Whatever it Takes.”