Uma Laguna Curtis ’26 is a 4th-year senior at Northwood who has participated in many activities here, including rock climbing, hiking, freestyle skiing, and dance. She has done trips to places like Red Rocks, Japan, and more. Last week, Uma had her final high school dance recital at Saranac Lake High School, which many people attended. Here’s what she has to say about how dance has influenced her life so far.
Uman Laguna-Curtis ’26 (second from left) in her final dance performance. Photo provided.
“Ballet has taught me a lot of discipline,” she said. “It has also taught me that I can do anything I put my mind to. Having started so late, I was doing ballet for three and a half hours a day my sophomore year, so I could improve enough to take it maybe professionally one day. I no longer have interest in taking it professionally; however, it still brought me so many skills I will continue to use for the rest of my life,” she added.
Ballet isn’t a very noticed sport here at Northwood. However, it is just as important and strenuous as any other, so Uma’s experience has been somewhat personal and unique to the Northwood community.
Uman Laguna-Curtis ’26 (standing, at right) in her final dance performance. Photo provided.
“I think taking ballet while at Northwood has had its ups and downs. I have had a handful of people tell me it is an unathletic activity.” Laguna-Curtis said. “That is frustrating to hear, considering how strenuous ballet is on your body. It is not only mental but very physical. I have also had a fun time sharing this thing I love doing with my peers. It is cool to have people who have never seen a dance show come to watch,” she added.
“My current ballet studio has been so welcoming and supportive and has been a place I look forward to going to. I have been constantly inspired by the girls around me, and every day I dance, I create new memories of happiness and joy,” she said.
Uma has learned that as a ballerina, you are heavily influenced by your studio. This is what she had to say about that, “I think within ballet culture you may find a harsh competitive nature, and I had to experience that in my past studio. I think it is a great way to develop yourself as an athlete and person, but I also think the joy of it is contingent on the studio itself. If you have a mean teacher or the people around you are less supportive, it makes it a difficult thing to enjoy.”
Uman Laguna-Curtis ’26 in her final dance performance. Photo provided.
Her last recital was a mix of emotions and made her consider pursuing ballet after high school. “I don’t think I have fully processed the fact that that was my last recital. I know it made many of the people I dance with very emotional, but many of them have done it their whole lives. I love ballet, and I will never forget when I found it. It has helped me through really hard times, but at times it has put me through some hard times. Though I don’t want to do it as a career anymore, I will definitely keep it up in the future through clubs in college and drop-in classes. I hope dance stays in my life forever,” she said.
Everyone in the crowd who knew Uma knew it was her final high school recital. They had their eyes on her as she performed her last dances of high school. I think everyone who knew her also felt cheerful for her during her recital.
