Sophomore leaps into professional dancing

Sophomore Lauren Kness never imagined she would be dancing for the Portland Ballet. Last year she started thinking about auditioning for this prestigious company, but the ballet only accepts around 30 dancers each year.

To prepare for the audition, she knew she first needed more training. She started attending weekend classes taught by the Portland Ballet teachers. She also began working with a dance coach who taught her to be more focused on developing power and control while dancing.

In an audition for a ballet company, a teacher wants to see the technique used. Kness danced in a regular class at the Portland Ballet taught by a company teacher who then watched and decided if she had the skill, power and endurance to dance, and she did.

“Dance is physically hard but also mentally hard because there are so many things you have to think about while you’re dancing,” Kness said.

Even though she had done auditions before, it was still stressful, especially for her mom Sandra Rogers.

“The audition was nerve-wracking for me because I knew she wanted to dance for them, and they do not let parents watch. I think Lauren was really confident and focused,” Rogers said.

Kness loves all the performance opportunities she gets now that she is a part of the Portland Ballet. The dancers are really supportive, and the teachers are very professional and encouraging for younger dancers.

“Something cool about the [Portland Ballet] is that we get a live pianist instead of listening to the same music,” Kness said. “Music is a super important part of dance and it’s cool that we get live music.”

Her mom said Kness has always been the kind of person who is very driven, she takes feedback from her instructors well and strives to push herself every day.

“Dance is an incredibly demanding sport. Strength, endurance and flexibility are very important, and you have to be willing to work very hard. She has given up a lot to dance at this level, and her dad and I are incredibly proud of her,” Rogers said.

One of her most memorable experiences was back at her Forest Grove studio when she was Clara in “The Nutcracker.” She has also received a $250 dance scholarship from the New York City Dance Alliance.

According to her close friend, sophomore Ashley Cox, Kness spent the summer in Wisconsin dancing with the Milwaukie Ballet. She even traveled to Seattle to try out for several summer dance programs.

“When it comes to dancing, Lauren is incredibly humble about all her accomplishments and success, never boasting about her amazing talent. She’s extremely devoted, dancing six days a week, having literally no free time. Lauren’s given up a lot to get where she’s at, and I can’t wait to see the extraordinary dancer she becomes in the future,” Cox said.

It takes a lot of dedication and energy to dance as much as Kness does, but she does not back down from a challenge. Now she dances six days a week, four hours a day at the Portland Ballet, compared to only dancing four hours a week at her Forest Grove Studio.

“I think Lauren still loves dancing as much as […] she did when she was younger,” Rogers said.

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