Featured Dancer: Zaria Robinson
by Norm Ramil / 8ca.music.person & dance.fan
Our first ever featured dancer here on the 8CA dance blog calls one of the Chicago area’s current dance hotspots home. The 2010s have been Naperville’s time to shine in the Illinois Dance Community, with the current 3A champs on the north side (Naperville North), multiple state titles on the south side (Neuqua Valley), and one of the state’s oldest dance programs in the middle, next to downtown (Naperville Central).
Every time I visited Naperville Central’s Arrowettes dance team over the past few seasons, Zaria Robinson’s skills and personality shined through during practices. My impression? Here’s a kid who demands the best of herself and her teammates. Her team’s state appearances date back to at least 1989 (in IDTA), so as you flip through Instagram pics this summer, know that the Naperville Central name carries a ton of weight in our sport. And it was Zaria who was up front in many of Naperville Central’s formations, looking confident and highly skilled in her team’s competitive dances over the past couple seasons.
I’d like to thank Zaria for taking time from her spring break to share a little about her dance life with 8CA and the rest of the Illinois Dance Community, along with her teammates and coaches for their memorable and musicality-focused routines!
Dance background:
“I first started training in Oxford, Ohio when I was around 3 at Next Generation Dance. That was for 2 years. I then came to Illinois and trained at Academy Dance Arts and I was with them for 1 year. After that I was at Storm Dance Alliance for 9 years. I did stop for a year and train with B-discovered dance company, but then went back to Storm.”
Loves to watch:
“I really love to watch contemporary and jazz routines because I’m always so interested in seeing how others interpret songs and the moves choreographers come up with.”
Loves to perform:
“I love to perform all styles of dance; I don’t really have a favorite. I definitely cannot tap, but I can fake it for a performance😂”
She knew she was good when…
“I’m going to be completely honest…I don’t think I’m really good. I have come to a point where I do know my skill level and I’ve come to realize that I am a talented dancer…but I don’t think I’m really good. I would have to say my realization to my worth in dance came back when I was 7th or 8th grade.
“In elementary school I was bullied a lot and I lost all my self confidence and it showed when I danced. I wasn’t the performer I used to be. It was hard because I still loved dance…but I was never able to fully invest myself the way I wanted to. In 7th grade I started to be given more opportunities to be in front for dances and little solo parts and I would have to say that was a big factor, but I really think 8th grade was my turning point in knowing my worth and value as a dancer. I was given a lot more opportunities to be showcased and it showed me that my hard work was finally paying off and that I was good enough to be in front. I was talented enough to have these opportunities. I would have to say a switch just clicked in my head honestly. The fact that other people (my coaches and my peers) believed in me really showed me and made me realize I am talented and I am good enough to be in these positions.”
Worked hard on this skill:
“One skill that I worked really hard to improve at I would have to say is center leaps. I could not do a center leap for the life of me. They were so bad. I couldn’t get off the ground or have a nice pop at the top…so bad! But I kept working at it and one day it finally clicked. Honestly I would have to say now my center leaps are, if not one of, then my best skill. I get so much height and I have a nice pop at top. I’m sorry…I’m really proud of them😂.”
Studio style vs. dance team style:
“At first it was difficult because they did things differently than I was taught, which is fine (we all have our own ways)…but it was just kind of a shock. For example, my dance team did second turns differently than I was taught so I had to adapt to how they did it. Also doing pom arms and making sure everything hit and you couldn’t really flow through was new to me. I also think that it helped my team because I was able to offer advice from my studio training and it did help some of the girls.
“It got somewhat easier as the years went on and I would help anyone that asked because that’s what you do as a teammate. You help your team and strive to make them better. So I would take my training and help the girls if they wanted it and I think as a whole it brought us closer because we all could count on one another and know we have each other’s best interest at heart.”
Thoughts on the past season:
“This season was a year for learning a lot and I’m glad to have had the experience and learn from it.”
Advice for newer high school dancers:
“I would say hone in on why they are all on the team. They all love to dance and to remember that and not dwell on the drama or bad times. It goes by quickly and before you know it, it’s your last season.”
Would change this about Illinois competitive dance:
“I think maybe the way the judges record their thoughts and critiques…usually for studio they talk into a microphone and that helps just so that they are watching the whole time and don’t have to look down to write.”
Next dance plans:
“I will be working as a UDA instructor over the summer. Still debating which college I will attend.
“I plan on either minoring in dance or double majoring with dance and marketing. I also plan on opening my own dance studio and sharing my love and passion of dance to younger generations.”
Favorite memories from the Naperville Central program:
“I would definitely say my entire freshman year was my favorite memory from Central’s team. I loved all of those girls and that was the best way to start out my high school dance career. We had a dance we all connected to and I’ve never been closer with a group of girls than my freshman team. I have a special place in my heart for those girls. And of course my amazing coaches. Going to state that year was so amazing and I cherish those memories.”
We’d find this on her playlists:
“You would honestly find any and everything on my playlist. There is a little of everything. Being a dancer has just exposed me to so many different genres and I love it.”
When not dancing…
“I love to color or hang out with my friends. I love amusement parks and water parks.”
Fave places to eat in downtown Naperville:
“Recently I just tried Q barbecue and honestly it’s amazing. I love ribs and they just fall off of the bone from there. It’s genuine good southern barbecue.”
Naperville central routines tend to have good musicality. Any tips on how a dancer or a choreographer can do a better job connecting with their song?
“I know what helps me is closing my eyes and listening to the song and seeing what emotion it brings up. I also just love to improv so I’ll do that and see what happens.”
Other teams that impressed her:
“Geneva was amazing. Wabounsie had a beautiful routine. Maine South always blows me away.”
