“As Long As I’m Dancing, I’ll Be Happy”
When young lil’ Grace Hilarides, aka “Gracie,” started dancing at 3-years-old, the “barre” was set high. As the youngest one in many of her dance classes, she recalls her dad giving her dance teacher a call to see if “she was able to handle it and keep up.” But even at her age, she held her own and proved to her dad and teachers that she nothing was going to stop her. Today, Miss Hilardes is the reigning 2013 Miss Dance America, crowned at our Toledo, OH National Finals. Her award-winning and moving contemporary performance entitled, “She,” was choreographed by her older sister Sarah Hilarides.
Watch it here:
Coming to us from Center Stage Dance Studio located in Battle Creek, MI under the direction of Lisa Dubois, Gracie “wow’d” the judges with her stage presence and story-telling ability. And lucky for us, we got the pleasure of recently chatting with 17-year-old Gracie to get to know more about her and her exciting dance journey. Here’s the Q&A with the talented and sweet Grace Hilarides.
What is your favorite style of dance?
GH: Contemporary is my favorite to perform. It’s a way for me to evoke emotion and to tell a story emotionally. It allows people to invest in my story that I am trying to tell.
Let’s talk about your personal story. What is your first memory of dance?
GH: I started at 3-years-old doing recreational. Then, I started competing at 7. But, there weren’t any Mini’s or Petites before. So, I was dancing with the Juniors, 12 and 13-year-olds. I really remember my dad calling my dance teacher, like “Do you think she can do this?” He was worried because I was so much younger and smaller than the other girls. This really made me had to push myself to be at their level, but it was also an advantage.
When did you realize that dance was your passion and something that you wanted to pursue?
GH: I’ve always known that I love dance so much. It was my freshman year of high school, I did a dance program and knew that I wanted to do this for the rest of my life. I try to think of other careers and occupations, like nursing or whatever, and honestly I can’t come up with one. I really can’t.
What have been your biggest challenges for you as a dancer?
GH: I wasn’t really involved in a lot of school activities because dance has taken so much of my life. There was always a disconnect because my friends at school didn’t really share the same hobbies, or I couldn’t take part in some of the things that they would do. But, that’s okay because I love what I am doing; I don’t regret it. On the dance aspect, it’s my flexibility. It’s my biggest struggle, and I have always struggled with it. I feel behind most everybody. And with not having the flexibility that everyone else does, that made me have to find something to set me apart. I think that’s how I found my passion for contemporary and be able to put so much emotion in my dancing.
What has been the greatest moment been in your dance career so far?
GH: I think it was when my sister choreographed one of my dances for the first time. It was a special moment for her and I to be able to work together.
Talk about what it’s like to be able to work with your sister on an artistic level.
GH: It just kind of flows. We collaborate really well together. My sister has been the biggest inspiration to me my whole life. I love her so much. She was there for me every step of the way. Being able to share the same passion, and for her to guide me in my learning experience in dance is just amazing. And it being my senior year, it’s hard knowing that she we might not be able to choreograph for me, which makes me sad.
How do you connect to your performance?
GH: If you’re able to move to the music and listen and connect with it, that’s what it’s about. When I’m dancing, I don’t think about how I am supposed to be acting. I just tell myself, this is how I feel and need to feel. It’s not something you can practice or plan out, you have to just feel it.
What are your future goals, whether they are dance-related or not?
GH: Next Fall, I will be attending Western Michigan University. I am majoring in Dance and minoring in Business. I’m really excited to experience college. After four years of that and graduation, I hope I go onto becoming a professional dancer. I would love to go into commercial dance. Whatever opportunity will knock on my door, I’ll take. As long as I’m dancing, I’ll be happy.
What is some advice that you want to give to young dancers out there?
GH: The advice I would give to a younger dancer is to keep pushing. You don’t realize how quick it goes and how little time there really is. Keep pushing yourself, try harder than you think you can. Don’t be scared. Just do it. Just go for it. I spent my younger years being so nervous, and if I can go back, I would tell myself this.
Thank you and best of luck on your road to success, Gracie!
xo, KAR