This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
12/07/2023 10:51 AMFrom starting in dance as soon as she was old enough to do so, and participating in her inaugural solo within competitive dancing from the age of 8, Chloe Alsback’s undying love for the floor was manufactured right from the get-go. Now, that passion has helped push her to some of the loftiest recognitions and opportunities for her field.
The Deep River resident and Valley Regional High School junior was recently named a member of the American Dance Collaborative (ADC), which is a collaboration of highly talented dancers, teachers, and choreographers from different geographical areas who join forces to train, create, perform and compete, most notably at international competitions and events.
As a member of the United States Dance Sport Competition Federation, ADC is tasked with selecting and preparing an elite team of dancers that will represent the United States at the annual World Tap Championships in Europe. Chloe will additionally be competing for a gold medal at the 2024 International Dance Organization (IDO) World Championships in Prague next September.
“I always watched my older sister dance, and I just found these dance shoes in the bin of the studio,” says Chloe. “There were about 35 to 40 dancers at the audition for the U.S. Team, so it was nerve-racking, but I was so excited when I got the email saying I made it. Representing the U.S. Tap Team in the World Championships is one of the highest honors you can get. I will hopefully be getting the gold medal with a large group of 24 people in the competition. I am just very excited to see what happens.”
No matter how many times she has taken the spotlight, Chloe does get a little bit of stage fright anytime she steps out there. Yet it is just a sign that her competitive juices are still flowing, as she notes that it is about the journey rather than the final result.
“I have been doing this for so long, but I still get that nervous feeling before a competition,” Chloe says. “Yet before each competition, I get my muscles ready, breathe, and tell myself that I have done all the preparation I needed to do and that I am a hard worker. It is about the process that gets me there which I enjoy, especially when it comes to something like learning a new move. I just love the process of dancing and learning new things and doing it with my friends.”
Speaking more to the camaraderie within the dancing sphere, Chloe commends her colleagues for being so warm and uplifting, to the point where she has both well-known and anonymous cheerleaders for each endeavor.
“It is such a small community, but everyone is so supportive and encouraging,” says Chloe. “I am lucky to be a part of it. The girls are always willing to give you a helping hand. Everyone in a competition is in the same boat, and so there is always someone cheering me on, whether I know who they are or not.”
Chloe explains that even though she still has a little more than a year left in her time as a high schooler, her desires for college have already been determined. She looks to keep her dance dreams afoot as she moves to the next phase of her life, while looking to be a permanent fixture towards the top of every event she takes part in.
“I want to continue dancing long after high school. In college, I want to earn my Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts and Dance,” Chloe says. “I have been working hard lately and had a successful season last year. I would like to place in the top 10 for every competition this season, which was my goal last year, too.”
Emily Branigan, Chloe’s instructor at The Studio at Guilford Center, is quite excited and eager to see Chloe make her move on a global stage.
“Chloe is such a light both in the classroom and on stage. She gives her all to everything she does and that’s what makes her successful,” says Branigan. “We are excited for her to represent The Studio at Guilford Center, along with her other teammates as part of the American Dance Collective. The USA Team has a long legacy of success at the IDO World Championships. We know Chloe will be an asset to this team, and can’t wait to watch her thrive.”
Additionally, Chloe will look to learn through observing as an understudy of sorts to professionals that embody and represent where she wants to be in her future. As she looks to gain personal notoriety, she is simply putting her best efforts forth, while simply enjoying the ride and not taking one single thing for granted.
“I am excited to be an apprentice at competitions and work underneath some great dancers and just get my name out there,” says Chloe. “I am excited to see where everything with dance will take me. I also hope dance will do me justice when it comes to the audition process with colleges.”