Most seniors’ weekends consist of spending quality time with friends and waking up no earlier than noon, but for senior Melissa Lester, jet setting and back breaking competition is all in a day’s work.
All of her success is earned not given; Lester has put in years of blood, sweat, and tears starting from the age of three.
“My mom put me in dance classes when I was younger,” said Lester “and I actually quit when I was six because I couldn’t do my splits, which looking back is ironic.”
After a two year break, Lester realized that she couldn’t resist dance. She found herself dancing to every song on the radio and teaching herself dances she saw on TV. She starting dancing again at the age of eight and this time it stuck.
“After two years of me dancing again the owner of my first studio talked to my mom and told her that I had talent and that I should join their company, it was called the Petite Company at the time, at that point I realized maybe I could do something with this,” said Lester.
She stayed with this company for a few years, taking up ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, lyrical, contemporary, pointe and modern dance. She then switched to Buffa’s Dance studio which led her to groups like Dance Makers who gave her the experiences and opportunities to do what she does today. Lester started taking competition classes and getting exposed to all that the dance world had to offer.
“During the summer I went to Nationals with my teacher who works for the competition circuit. I assisted him with some classes, and took some classes on my own. I didn’t realize this at the time but they were auditioning for a new company they were starting called ‘The Collective: the Elite Company’,” said Lester.
She was later chosen with nine others, out of a group of about 1,000 dancers to join the company. “The Collective: the Elite Company” allows dancers like Lester to tour and the experiences that a touring company can offer.
“The competition that it’s for is called Dance Makers, so basically what I do is travel with them on weekends to cities all over the United States and assist with classes during the day, work backstage at night, sell merchandise, and take photographs,” said Lester.
Some of the teachers she works with are from So You Think You Can Dance like Kathryn McCormick. Another teacher Kyle Robinson is one of the founders from a professional dance company called Shaping Sound. Still other teachers have worked for commercials and other projects.
Traveling and meeting other dancers is a new playing field for Lester, the environment is surprisingly positive and welcoming, with all the people involved learning from each other and appreciating their art form.
“It’s kind of anti-Dance Moms, it’s like a family reunion,” said Lester.
Though media sometimes portrays the harsher parts of the art, like in shows like “Dance Moms,” the company emphasizes a positive environment, making sure everyone feels like part of a family. However, many see Lester as more of a role model than a sister.
“It’s funny because after some weekends I have so many new followers on social media telling me how I’m an inspiration and role model to them” said Lester.