Senior Jordan Chavis has made the UNC Charlotte dance team. She hopes to become a physical therapist. Photo by Saul Janiak Stein.
Jordin Chavis has been dancing since she was three, so she already had an interest before coming to Riverside.
Additionally, she had already met Ms. Duncan beforehand, since Duncan had taught at her dance studio when she was seven or eight. So when she found out that Duncan taught dance at Riverside as well, it seemed to make sense that she should take her class.
“She naturally pushes herself to be the best dancer she can be,” said Kristin Duncan, Riverside’s dance director. “As a dancer, Jordin is powerful with spunk, clarity, and passion.”
“[Dance] is really fun,” Chavis said. “It can be stressful when you get close to show dates, since there’s a lot more rehearsal time and making sure you have all of your costumes and all the things you need for shows, but overall, I have a lot of fun in class.”
Right now, however, Chavis isn’t sad to be graduating. In fact, she said she’s excited. All her dedication to dance has paid off, as Chavis made the UNC Charlotte Dance Team, the Charlotte Gold Dusters, as an incoming freshman.
“I’m really honored to be accepted,” said Chavis.
Both Chavis and Duncan considered this to be a great accomplishment, since dance teams often act as spirit ambassadors for their university and travel the country to compete.
But Chavis’ goals beyond high school don’t stop with just the sport. She aims to become a physical therapist and hopes that learning more about the movement of the body and anatomy from the perspective of physical therapy can apply to dance and help her teach at a dance studio one day.
“Jordin is fun and witty,” said Duncan. “I will miss her dancing effortlessly across the dance floor with such grace…and our dance life story times in class.”
“I hope that I continue with it and that [dance] continues to play some role in my life,” Chavis said.
