The Spotlight

Thalia Salloum

"I grew up as an active kid. I loved to try new things and I loved to learn. From an early age I knew one of my passions- dance. I was really flexible in gymnastics as a kid. During my exchange year, I got the chance to tryout at my high school’s dance team and get in. Little did I know it would turn out to be everything I ever wanted."

"In my home country, I watched lots of American dance shows and pretended to be in one of them. I’d always play the music and imagine I was a character myself standing on that stage with my group of dancers. I never knew what it felt like to have this group as my team, until I went on the YES program."

"We had a successful season, winning first place in regional competitions and fifth at State."

From earning a new family, to learning discipline, punctuality, and team bonding, she was able to make it to State finals with her team. Performing in front of over two thousand people at a gym and having judges studying every move was nerve racking.

"But moments before the music started, I closed my eyes. The world froze around me, I could hear the audience cheering from far away and I shed a tear, saying to myself, “This is all over you ever wanted, you got this.”

Later on, she ended up performing at Hammond Academy of Performing Arts Program which took her from the gym to the studio and stage. She ended her exchange year with one last dance at the HAPA Spring Dance Concert.

"As the spotlight was slowly getting brighter on us, I turned to my best friends around me, I looked at myself, then at the audience, and started with a big smile on my face."

Everything she always imagined was right in front of her eyes. She was finally there!! It was her last dance.

When people ask about who I am, I define myself as a proud YES alumna. I spent ten months of exchange learning, growing, and giving my all, only to realize that every end has a new beginning.

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