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08/05/2021 12:00 AMWhen Gabriella Navarra reminisces on her childhood, she thinks about a little girl who was incredibly active and always eager to try out something new. At the age of two, Gabriella started dancing and immediately fell in love with the sport.
Now, Gabriella is a 14 year-old who is entering her freshman year at Morgan. Gabriella is hoping to improve upon the skills that she’s developed to become one of the top dancers in the state of Connecticut.
“This upcoming season will be my 13th year dancing and 10th year competing. I started dancing at two years old,” Gabriella says. “What got me into dancing was that my older sister [Brianna] was dancing, and I was a very active child when I was younger, so my mom was looking for an activity that her two year-old daughter could enjoy and stay occupied.”
Gabriella is currently a member of the Senior Dance Team at the Westbrook Dance Academy (WDA). The WDA’s Senior Competition Team recently competed at the Starpower Talent Nationals meet at Mohegan Sun and earned five stars for each of its three routines. The team finished in second, fifth, and sixth place in the 15-19 Small Group Division between its three performances.
“I feel as though this was one of the best seasons I’ve had with my team and for me personally, and I’m so glad my team and I were able to perform these dances that we have been working on for such a long time due to the pandemic,” says Gabriella. “We got so many opportunities this year, and I’m so glad I joined this team. I wouldn’t trade them for anything.”
One setback that Gabriella and her WDA teammates faced during the past year was dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Gabriella and her fellow dancers had to move their practices to an online platform last year, and all of the team’s competitions were canceled.
“We had no competitions through all of 2020, which was very sad. But that made going back to that first competition so much better,” Gabriella says. “Some challenges my dance team had gone through besides having to learn and practice half of our dances over a Zoom call was, and still is, wearing a mask while practicing in the studio.”
Wearing a mask can be difficult for WDA’s dancers as they practice their strenuous routines. However, Gabriella feels proud of her team for taking every challenge in stride.
“Dancing in a mask makes breathing a lot harder, especially when you are already tired from practicing and using all of your energy, but we got through it,” says Gabriella. “Currently, we still have to practice with masks on in the studio. But luckily, when we’re on stage, we don’t have to wear one, which is the best feeling.”
WDA Head Coach Julie Reed-Russo describes Gabriella as a true talent and one of the program’s best dancers. Reed-Russo appreciates Gabriella’s desire to learn, along with the overall attitude that she brings to the team.
“Gabriella brings natural talent. You can’t teach that. She can do anything and is a quick learner,” Reed-Russo says. “Gabriella is a consistent overall dancer and is eager to improve. As a teammate, she is dedicated and supportive of those on her team.”
Gabriella has grown close with Coach Reed-Russo since she started competing at WDA. Gabriella considers Reed-Russo both a mentor and a friend.
“I’ve become very close with my coach considering how long I’ve been dancing there for. She’s always been there for me and tries her best to help us with anything, even if it’s not dance related,” says Gabriella. “She cares about each and every one of her students and considers all of us like we are her own kids. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for her.”
Above all, Gabriella enjoys dancing because she views it as a way to express her emotional and creative sides. Gabriella also embraces all of the strong connections that she’s made with her WDA colleagues.
“My favorite aspect of dance is how you can perform on a stage without saying anything, and you can tell a story with no words,” Gabriella says. “My other favorite aspect is the relationships I’ve been able to gain because of dance. The studio has become my second home, and my teammates have become my second family. Dance has shaped me into the person I am today.”