April 7, 2022
Freshman Poppi Wright, 5 years old, smiles for a picture with her dance teacher, Angie Klevorn, following a dress rehearsal for their annual recital. Now a freshman, Wright has performed with Klevorn for about 10 years. “My [dance] teacher has known me since I was five, so she grew up with me, and she saw how I’ve matured in all aspects of my life,” Wright said.
Freshman Poppi Wright, a dancer at The Charmette Academy of Dance, finds herself greatly influenced by two important women in her life: her mother and her dance teacher, Angie Klevorn.
At three years old, Wright began dancing competitively for ten years with Klevorn. Her favorite piece choreographed by Klevorn was a jazz solo she competed titled “History Repeating” during the 2020-2021 season.
“We have five competitions a year and then either recital or nationals. Before we go on stage [to perform], we always have a pep talk with [our teacher,] and I enjoy them,” Wright said.
While Klevorn choreographs Wright’s solo routines, dancing runs in Wright’s blood. Her mom, a former dancer herself, can empathize with Wright and understands the pressure Wright puts on herself to be the best she can be.
“I can always count on her if I need someone to talk to. [I love] talking with her on my bed. I go to her for so much, she’s a good person, and she helps out with charity,” Wright said. “Every other year, she shaves her and other people’s heads for kids with cancer, she’s good at communicating with others, and I think some of my personality is hers.”
Wright turns to both of these women when she’s had a rough day or is going through challenges in her life.
“Anytime something bad happens, like a passing in our family, they always bear with me and understand what I’m going through. With my mom, we go through the same thing. She knows how it feels, and my dance teacher just knows how to talk to me,” Wright said.
Both Klevorn and her mom give Wright advice that applies to all aspects of her life.
“My mom says if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it. And my dance teacher says just live life to the fullest,” Wright said. “I think I use [the advice], but I still have to work on it.”
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