Making lasting impressions at each dance recital by projecting her combined skill and vigor into an ever-smiling stage presence, one dancer from the Night to Remember already knows how far she wants to go, and she has been noticed.
Hannah Ruckle, from Red Mountain Ranch, is a member of L’s Studio’s Super Stars team. Her mom, Lisa Ruckle, came to the annual recital well prepared, with a bag of accessories and a rack of outfits, for 11 costume changes. Over the years, Lisa has become an experienced stagehand.
“Hannah dances her way through life,” Lisa commented. “She dances through the kitchen to other sides of the house.”
Now 14, Hannah started dancing, under Elle Eckardt’s care, at the age of 7. Since then, she has been fine-tuning many tap, ballet and jazz moves. She also plays the piano.
At her young age, Hannah has moved far into the field of dance. She recently won gold trophies in solo and group performances at the MOVE competition, and, in her freshman year, was recruited for the Red Mountain High School Pom Squad.
“I love dancing in recitals,” said this beaming teenager, who slips on a different persona with each costume. “Performing in front of people is really fun. This was one of the best recitals I have ever danced in. I pulled it off, even though I tore a muscle.”
What looks like wispy, breezy steps on stage, still has to defy gravity. So, like many ballerinas, Hannah has learned to ignore some small-to-medium-size pains.
“My favorite number was Jai Ho,” she recalled. “I never experienced a dance like that. This Bollywood dance was very high energy. I really enjoyed that.”
According to Hannah, aside from mastering each novelty, she appreciates many forms of dance. But which genre does she like best?
“This question is really hard for me to answer,” she said. “I like tap and hip-hop a lot. Tap is really a different form of dance, and hip-hop is very expressive in moves and costumes. The crowd really likes hip-hop, too.”
Through all her recital numbers, Hannah performed with conviction, but nothing looked better on her than the sizzling attitude of All That Jazz and the country music hit T-R-O-U-B-L-E. That was tap. And tap is about putting your foot down on the world.
Mom Lisa was proud. “All the girls have grown tremendously,” she said. “Lindsay and Elle are excellent coaches. They provide such fabulous choreographies, and give the girls so much personal attention. Hannah also has benefited a lot from that.”
Hannah is already making plans for the future. First, she will continue with L’s Studio. Next, she is taking a dance class in high school. She also will be performing with the varsity pom line.
“I want to go to college, and major in dance,” Hannah said. Her ultimate goal is to become a Radio City Rockette, and open her own dance studio. Meanwhile, she has enjoyed helping Elle and Lindsay teach the 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds. According to Hannah, her summer plans include pom practice, and “… letting my body catch up from the recital.”
This girl has got the moves, presence and determination. If she keeps going, and luck will have it, the Rockette dream may well be accomplished.
For more registration information regarding upcoming classes, and more information about L’s Studio dance programs, contact Elle at elle121@aol.com, or call (480) 244-3344. Registration for L’s Studio dance classes will take place on Aug 4, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.