Ava is in 6th grade at Bryan Middle School in Elmhurst, IL. She has been dancing since she was 18 months old! This is her 3rd year with Extensions. Ava has earned many accomplishments and awards over the course of her dance career. In 2019, Ava was cast as a Little Snowflake in the Joffrey Ballets’ “The Nutcracker.” In 2022, New York City Dance Alliance awarded her ‘Top Outstanding Dancer’ in the Chicago regional in which she earned a scholarship to their national convention classes and placed Top 40 nationally for her contemporary solo. She also performed a classical variation, contemporary solo and contemporary ensemble for the first time at an international competition, Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP), where she placed top 10 for both solo performances. Ava is excited to do this again this year! Lastly, she had an honored experience of earning a spot to dance with the School of America Ballet this past summer in their Jr Intensive program. The experience to train with new students and teachers in NYC was more memorable than anticipated! Over the years, Ava has won multiple awards and recognitions 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! Ava knows she has so much more to learn and receive from this beautiful art. She believes she is in the perfect place with Lizzie Mackenzie and the all amazing teachers at Extensions. When Ava is not dancing, you can find her enjoying Starbucks, watching any Star Wars movie in the series or reading! It can get difficult balancing dance and life, When schedules get really tough, she reminds herself of her family moto, “Whatever it Takes.”