Most of my Saturdays are spent on the soccer field in the burning heat or pouring rain, however, on one Saturday I found myself walking into the prestigious Washington Ballet school. Instead of being hit with a wave of heat or rain across my face, I was stunned by classical music flowing throughout the building and dancers of all ages in leotards and buns.

Before I could be too overwhelmed,  I was met by dancer and senior Madeline Gradle in her dance clothes and a tight bun sitting on the top of her head. Gradle smiled and asked me if she could show me around, and with wide eyes I peaked into studios filled with barres, dancers, and assertive instructors.

As we sat down to speak, Gradle sat straight up with a smile on her face in a flowy blouse and black leggings.. With her, Gradle carried a bag with her pointe shoes, snacks, and extra clothing to get her through the long day. I asked her how long she planned to be there for the day, and she said that she would be there from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm doing the one thing she loved: dancing.

However, this Saturday is just one out of the six days she commits to the studio. Gradle is used to every day coming straight from school to dance from 3:30 pm-7:30 pm.

While we were sitting right outside of the studio I realized what a large commitment classes are when more dancers started filing in and stretching. Gradle explained that while class starts at 11:30 everyone arrives at around 10:30 to stretch and prepare for class.

Gradle, a Falls Church lifer, has been dancing for a decade and a half and started off her career at the Falls Church Community Center. After the community center, at the age of six Gradle moved to Ballet Nova where she got her first taste of working every single day, except Sundays. A year ago, Gradle moved to the Washington Ballet which also includes daily classes but is a much more rigorous program.

As Gradle’s commitment to dancing increased, so did the expectations for school. Gradle realized to make rehearsals and classes, she would have to cut her school days short. With the help of her counselor Marcia Schumann, Gradle proactively planned out her high school classes so she wouldn’t have a block 6 or 7 and therefore be able to leave to make classes and rehearsals right after school every day.

Gradle would find herself continuing to juggle her school commitments and dancing when she got her first opportunity dancing in Suzanne Farrell’s prestigious company in their performance of Swan Lake. As the “muse” for George Balanchine, considered by many as the father of American ballet, Suzanne Farrell was a very significant dancer for the renowned New York City Ballet.   

“[In eleventh grade] I got an email that said they had an injured swan and they needed me to join for the Swan Lake performance, so I had two weeks to learn everything for the performance, said Gradle. “ In terms of missing school, I just talked to [Principal] Byrd and asked for a leave of absence from school, and I was just doing school work after rehearsals and in the mornings.”

The leave of absence proved to be a great experience for Gradle, who was able to learn from Artistic Director Suzanne Farrell and a different company. Gradle described the experience was very differently because the dancers in that company are not permanent and come from all over the world.

“For Suzanne Farrell’s performances, dancers came from all over the world: Carolina Ballet, Los Angeles Ballet, and even the National Ballet of Canada. They all come in for 6 weeks, learn a performance, perform it, and then go back to their other companies,” said Gradle.

The very next year, Suzanne Farrell called again asking for Gradle to join the company for a short time. Gradle again took time off from school, but also continued to stay dedicated to her studies by coming into school to complete work from 7-8 in the morning.

Just when you think that Gradle might take off the summers at the beach, Gradle describes auditioning for “summer intensive programs” that happen all over the world. Gradle went to her first summer program at The Washington Ballet when she was twelve and ever since then has gone to one every summer.

“A lot of dancers go to summer intensive programs, they happen all over the country– if you audition and get in, you can go anywhere,” said Gradle.

This upcoming summer, Gradle will be heading to Miami City Ballet. While this may seem like a chore and exhausting, Gradle looks at these experiences as only positive ones.

“These programs allow you spend time working with their teachers and dancing in their studios– to learn more and get more exposure,” said Gradle.

While I couldn’t imagine Gradle had much free time on her hands when I asked her what she does in free time, she laughed and confirmed my thinking that she probably didn’t have much of it. However, the free time she has is spent with her fellow dancers.

“Sometimes we will go out to lunches, or go down spend the day in DC,” said Gradle. “In fact, tomorrow [on the one off day] we’re going to see the Washington Ballet perform.”

Next year Gradle will continue to pursue her goal of dancing for a professional ballet company. As the audition season for next year concludes, Gradle will be considering several Trainee opportunities. What amazed me the most about Gradle was her passion for dancing. The long hours, extensive planning, and hard days are all part of her love for what she does.

“You just spend so much time with it that its important to make sure you keep the love for it. For me, I’ve always had that love for it and desire to keep learning, desire for more challenges,” said Gradle. “I think that is what makes it so worthwhile– it is a part of what defines me”