There have been several transfers this school year, and you may notice a few new faces. One person you may not know yet is Brooklyn Philpott; she transferred from Dan River in the fall of 2022 as a sophomore, and she has had almost a full school year to form a new schedule and make new friends. 

“Classes have been enjoyable, and the teachers are great; I am just glad to be in person for class again,” Philpott said. 

Outside of school, Brooklyn has a jam-packed schedule; this is because almost all her free time is spent at the dance studio. Brooklyn currently attends The Meredith Gravely School of Dance; however, at a young age, she was introduced to her passion without much of a choice. 

“When I was three years old, my mom signed me up for dance. I kept going to the classes because I liked going. It was something to do, so I thought it couldn’t hurt. Even when I was little, I was inspired by all things creative.” 

“Overtime, dance has definitely gotten much more important to me. I have been very busy, but every moment has been worth it. I have even chosen to do more dance as I grew up by taking competition dance classes and attending dance competitions. I am glad I kept doing it because dance has been my entire life; it is 100% my favorite thing to do,” Philpott said.

No one can blame Brooklyn for continuing in her endeavors. Her countless hours of hard work and practice have led her to achieve recognition for her talent.

“I tend to stay attached to whatever activity allows me to be free and do what I want to do. I think that’s why I put so much effort into it. Competitions, auditions, and performances can be really stressful, but anytime you win that makes it way more fun.”

“I’ve gotten opportunities for scholarships and requests to travel and compete in many national competitions. I’ve been asked to go to LA and take classes, to be a background dancer in a musical, to attend Joffrey Ballet School. The coolest achievement is when I was considered for the Best Dancer Award at NYCDA nationals.”

“But overall, I like competing and taking stressful classes because it means that I get to keep getting better. Dancing with people that are better than me makes me a better dancer,” Philpott said.

It is apparent that Brooklyn has a natural talent for the art of dance, and she isn’t afraid to voice that with her achievements and competitive edge. In contrast to what you might think, Brooklyn doesn’t want her entire life to be dance. She has even more to offer.

“No matter what, I have to go to college. Dance has always been an option, but I think it will be more of a hobby than anything else. I don’t know if I want to be a professional dancer or not, but whatever happens, I won’t regret putting so much effort into it. It has made me who I am.”