dancing through life
Peters Township’ s Ultimate Dance Complex teaches and inspires Brianna Rodgers to be the best dancer she can be.
BY NICOLE TAFE
Brianna Rodgers
Brianna Rodgers has been defying the odds since the moment she was born. Brianna, 13, was born with Spina bifida.“ Spina bifida means‘ split spine,’” she explains.“ I have Myelomeningocele— the worst kind— and my level is L5-S1. I have had 41 surgeries, and my first surgery was when I was only one day old.”
Despite having spent a lot of her life in the hospital, and some of that time in the ICU, Brianna has a zest for life and is passionate about many different things including baking, baseball and makeup. But, one of her passions is undeniable— dancing.
Brianna is the daughter of Michelle and Dan Rodgers and has a sister, Abby, who is 15 years old. The family lives in Whitehall and Brianna will be going into 7th grade at Harrison Middle School this fall. In school, she belongs to the yearbook committee, student council and the sign language club. She also plays baseball with the Miracle League in the fall.
Brianna grew up watching Abby dance, and knew that she was meant to do so as well. Abby has been dancing since she was 4 years old, and has always been incredibly supportive of Brianna’ s passion for the art. When the sisters were young, Brianna was always watching Abby and trying to dance with her. Fast-forward 11 years and they are always making up dances together, and enjoy competing on the same team.
Brianna began taking dance lessons at Ultimate Dance Complex in Peters Township when she was 8 years old. She now studies in a solo class with her teacher, Miss Kaitlynn, each week.“ She has been my teacher since I started dancing at UDC,” notes Brianna.“ Miss Kaitlynn pushes me to do my best each time.”
Ultimate Dance Complex is Brianna’ s second home.“ I love being there with all the girls, dancing and hanging out with my friends,” she says. UDC teaches a variety of dance styles including tap, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, ballet and gymnastics.
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