People’s lives are often driven by passions. For sophomore Lily Suggs, dance is more then a passion-it’s the rhythm that was shaped her life since she was three years old. She’s had a love for all styles of dance, but specifically ballet, where her dance journey began.

Her initial love for ballet eventually grew into an adoration for all styles of dance. In addition to the techniques and lines of ballet, she learned different types of movement. Suggs explains her most recent favorite style of dance.

“I really like contemporary because there are no certain rules, and you can break the barrier of ballet and jazz technique. You get to express your emotions, creating movement that isn’t so picture perfect. It evokes an emotional connection from the dancer to the audience, more so than a simple combo,” Suggs said.

Her first dance class sparked a lifelong love of this sport that led to the best friendships, strength in movement, and a strong work ethic. Her passion and commitment are noticed by coaches and teachers, but most importantly, her teammates. Sophomore Elise Mayer dances at the same dance studio and speaks to Lily’s characteristics in class.

“Lily has a very strong work ethic in dance class, and she always puts in her best effort until she is satisfied with the result…I think that Lily’s strength in dance is her movement quality and her ability to carry out each move with precision,” Mayer said.

DGS Dance team coach Dawn Jovic also commends Suggs’ dancing skills. Over the past year, Suggs was pushed to improve and make the varsity team. Moving up a level is no easy task, but her coach, Dawn Jovic, speaks to the assets that are brought to the team.

“Lily has grown so much. I think that she wasn’t so confident in her technique, on JV last year, and now I’m seeing her execute really, really hard skills. It’s fun for me to see her gain confidence. Lily has a really great quality of movement, she understands musicality and counts, and she really strives to be perfect in her execution,” Jovic said.

Suggs has a positive impact on all those who come across her in the dance world. She is a leader for her teammates and other students. Her high level of dance, as well as leadership, is evident in high school and studio dance.

“I think that one of Lily‘s biggest strengths as a leader is that she has good choreography ideas, and she’s somebody who speaks up when she has something worthwhile to say. She’s not somebody who just talks all the time. Sometimes, people talk so much that you don’t know which ideas are important, and Lily is really great at selecting important ideas to contribute,” Jovic said.

In addition to the leadership and dedication seen from Suggs, dance is a large obligation. Skill and leadership are only beneficial if they are paired with a balanced schedule. Suggs participates in dance at her studio, Versa 5.

Dancing for both teams requires hard work and discipline to stay on top of her commitments. The day-to-day rehearsals paired with multiple performances can add up. But with the help of teammates and coaches, Suggs can maintain a high level of dance all around.

“I am fortunate enough to have a studio director who is flexible with the dance team schedule. The practices are every other day, which helps with my schedule. It is very hard to balance both at times, but with the help of my coaches and teammates, I can handle it very well,” Suggs said.

The encouragement from those around her plays a key role in Suggs success. Suggs dances next to, junior Ingrid Baker, her teammate on the varsity dance team at DGS. The two have danced alongside each other for two years now.

“One of Lily’s strengths is her commitment to dance. I see her working hard to be the best dancer she can be… I enjoy dancing with Lily because I know that she will always be there for me in hard times, and she is also a good example of someone who works hard,” Baker said.

Suggs has received many different skills from the sport of dance. Leadership, teamwork, and self-improvement. One of the most important takeaways from her passion for dance has been friendships. The relationships she has established along the way have changed her character for the better.

“My inspiring teammates are one main reason why I love to dance so much. The girls on my team have become my closest friends and people I can go to for help with dance or life in general. I dance because it pushes me to work my hardest and helps with life lessons of comparison and working together as a team,” Suggs said.

Friendships are also reflected through other people. Being part of a team means making new connections with people. Especially in high school, when there is a wide range of ages and grades all on the same team.

“Lily also has a fun personality and will always make you laugh. She is one of my best friends, and we would have never met if it weren’t for dancing. Having friends like her on the team makes the sport so much more enjoyable,” Baker said.

Overall, Suggs’ passion for dance is responsible for many different benefits in her life. The combination of all the lessons learned from dance has made her a better person. Committing time to a passion is something many high schoolers experience, but especially for Suggs and her dance family.