Some People are just simply made for the big stage and bright lights. Annie Lewis is one of these People. But only when the lights are glowing.

“She’s more of a reserved person generally, but when she’s performing she eats the attention up and just loves it,” Lewis’ mother Julie said.

This however has not always been the case. Just the opposite, when she started dancing. Lewis’ dance career was short lived as she couldn’t survive her three year old ballet class. Four years later, when Lewis turned 7, she asked her mom if she could take a hip-hop class. Lewis received high praise from her teachers leading her to take more classes.

“Her teachers said ‘she’s really good, she should be in more dance classes,” Julie said.

Since then, the stages and studios have been a second home. Lewis has been dancing ever since, dancing from hip-hop to jazz and she even went back to dancing ballet. Lewis spends countless hours dancing each weeks as she dances at her studio on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights. For Highland, she dance class last period on B-days and after school every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday after school till 4:30.

Lewis’ beginning dance teachers were right about her being an amazing dancer as she is Highland High School’s 2018-19 Dance Sterling Scholar and Dance Company President. With these great features also come a lot of pressure as she is the face of the program.

“There’s a lot of pressure, I feel like I have to maintain my dance techniques, and represent the dance company at highland,” Lewis said.

As Lewis is a very talented dancer and the spotlight is constantly following her, that doesn’t seem to phase her as she has a pure love for dance and the girls dancing alongside her.

“I love to perform, especially with the girls on Dance Company,” Lewis said.

Lewis is such a strong performer, it is recognized from other dancers dancing alongside her and that is what makes her such a great dancer.

“Her ability to engage with the audience while she is performing makes it that much enjoyable to watch and makes her a good dancer” Senior Avery Brightwell said.

Although at first Lewis was not a fan of dance she has grown to become a very talented dancer, and embraces the spotlight. Lewis has found how much joy she receives from dancing and would enjoy furthering her career in dance. Lewis is currently planning on going into Elementary Ed or health and human performance with a minor in Dance.

Dancing has been able to discover Lewis’ hidden personality and brought out plenty of joy and memories. And wants to keep dancing throughout her life.