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07/30/2014 12:00 AMIn just five years of competitive dance, Miles Waterbury has become one of the most decorated dancers in the state before even stepping foot onto a high school campus.
The incoming Morgan freshman, who competes in a wide variety of categories in tap, jazz, and ballet at the Westbrook Dance Academy, is in his eighth overall year of dancing and has traveled all over the country with stops that include New Hampshire and Walt Disney World. Within those travels, the Jared Eliot Middle School honor roll student captured the titles of Most Photogenic, Male Model Award, Teen Mr. Elite, and CISC (Connecticut Invitational Scholarship Competition for the Performing Arts) Mr. Teen for 2014.
"Dancing is my sport. I started it when I was seven and practice with it eight hours a week," says Miles. "I started out with just two dances and I just added on another each year. I'm up to 11 dances per year now."
Miles has also participated in the concert band, symphonic band, jazz band, and the Eliot show choir for all three years while at the middle school as both music and dance fuse together to fuel his fire for the floor.
"I also have a big passion for music so I feel the two are connected," says the trumpeter, who has also been selected for the past three years to represent Eliot at the Connecticut Music Educators Association Southern Regional Music Festival, participating in both the concert and jazz bands. "It's also a great exercise for me and it helps with memory by having to remember routines and moves. For me, dancing is about having fun-not winning."
At the Westbrook studio, Miles also gets a chance to impart his knowledge on younger five- and- six-year-old pupils as an assistant teacher in giving them the keys to follow in his steps.
"This is my first year being an assistant teacher and I'm trying to show them how to be a good role model," Miles says. "Most of the time, you have to show them multiple times how to do something and make sure they have the proper form."
Miles's instructor Julie Reed-Russo explains that he has progressed as a dancer and competitor while also lending a helping hand to herself and the youngsters.
"Miles started here with the studio in 2008 and has progressed very well since. He's improved his skills each year and works hard," says Reed-Russo. "Dancing gets harder as you get older so Miles watches the other competitors and pushes himself even harder. He is also such a great assistant teacher. He helps the kids out with certain steps and will be the first one to help me. The kids look up to him and he is just a great kid."
In addition to making new friends through the academy and competitions all over the United States, Miles likes to follow a structured schedule to balance his academics and all other obligations.
"It's all been very exciting. I've gone to New Hampshire, Disney World, Massachusetts, and all around Connecticut," says Miles, who was awarded the Connecticut Associations of Schools Scholar Leader Award. "It's fun traveling as a family with the studio and meeting new people in competition. I try to have a high organization level with everything, know my schedule, and just plan ahead on things."
Miles concludes by saying that he aims to use his high school tenure as a foundation to continue his dreams once he reaches the next stage of his education with his loved ones backing him the whole way.
"I am going to do dance through graduation from Morgan and do some of it in college, along with band," says Miles, who thanks everyone at Westbrook Dance Academy and his entire family. "My mother helps me a lot with dance and my family supports me and gives me confidence."