Paula Gutierrez
LITTLE VILLAGE-LAWNDALE DANCE TEAM (senior)
1ST TIME ON THE 8CA ALL-STATE DANCE TEAM
I’ve been on my school dance team since September 2023 but I started dancing here and there back in 2019.
My favorite memory was getting ready for comp and just overall getting the experience. Watching other teams compete was also very exciting.
I am a dancer who can bring energy and be a hard hitter. My team consists of strong, determined dancers.
I will give a shout out to my coach, Ms. Moreno, because she has taught me and our whole team different, cool styles. One of the biggest things that I learned from her was that stage presence/facials are very important. My teammates have also worked really hard through the season.
I really enjoy dancing reggaeton, I dance hip-pop here and there. I enjoy watching any style.
I like reading books. I like listening to music.
As a first year coach and professional dancer, it’s not often that I am impressed by first-year dancers, but every once in a while, I get a dancer that truly wows me. With that being said, I nominate senior Paula Gutierrez from the Little Village Lawndale High School varsity dance team for this award.
Paula started her dance career last summer with our now-junior varsity coach. From the moment she started dancing under me to this day, she hasn’t ceased to amaze me. She is what I would call a natural born dancer because with every rehearsal that she has attended, I’ve seen her grow more and more. She has pushed her limits more than any other dancer on the team, even as far as performing with an injury in the Regional Competition just to not let her team down. She is also one of the very few that has not been scared away from a challenge. For example, she has earned solos within pieces, performed in small groups, and even tried doing stunts and tricks for performances.
I genuinely wish that she would have started dancing on the team prior to this school year because I truly believe that with a little bit more training, she could become one of the greatest dancers Chicago has to offer.
It is my honor to have the opportunity to nominate such an amazing dancer like Paula Gutierrez for this award.