Kailey Ye

What companies/classes are you currently in?

I’m currently in CATS, Tap CATS, Hoofers, Hip-Hop Company, Elite Hip-Hop Company, and the Pre-professional Acting Class.

When did you start at Center Stage?

I started when I was 3 years old.

Do you remember your first dance routine?

I don’t remember the exact name but it was a tap number with Ms Jenn, and I was wearing a polka dot costume with a pink feather. The only reason I know that is because I have a picture of it hanging up in my living room.

What was your Center Stage journey?

I started out taking curtain-up classes, and later began recreational jazz and ballet classes. When I was 7, I joined the Cubs Company and worked my way through Cougars, Sr Cougars, then Jr Cats. I was a Jr 3 when I joined Tap Cats, and the following year I got into Cats. After that, I became a Hoofer, and joined the Hip-Hop Company. This past year, I also made it into the Elite Hip-Hop Company and the Pre-Professional Acting Class.

Why has it been worth all of the energy you’ve put into it and the sacrifices you’ve made?

Dancing and essentially living my life at Center Stage has taught me so many invaluable lessons and allowed me to form life-long friendships. I mean, I will say I’m pretty proud of the time management and efficiency skills I’ve gained from the long practices. But even more important and special to me are the friends I’ve made and the teachers I’ve had through the years. Center Stage is a second family to me, and I know I can always count on the people here to support me, inspire me, and make me laugh if I am having a bad day. I’ve learned so much about opening up and working to leave a positive impact on the world, and I’ve grown exponentially as a person in my time here. I know it sounds really cliche, but I truly would not be the person I am today without Center Stage. Also, I can now flex on people by saying I know how to do a 540 :D

You did “Sugar Plum” in our production of “The Nutcracker.”  Can you talk about that experience; the rehearsal, the performance and the accomplishment?

Yes, this year I was given the wonderful opportunity of dancing the role of Sugar Plum in The Nutcracker, which is something I’ve dreamed of since I was a little mouse 8 years ago. As for rehearsals, we had them almost every Sunday, and I started out learning the variation. I was actually in a boot for the first few weeks of rehearsal, which honestly made me worried that I would not be ready to perform in time, but it all worked out fine :) The part that was most foreign to me was the partnering. It was a really cool experience, and I’m so grateful and lucky that I was able to partner with someone like Jarred, who was so supportive and helpful throughout the entire process. I learned a lot about the importance of trusting and communicating with your partner so you are able to really connect with them as you dance. Between designated rehearsals, I also ran my variations a lot during class with Anne, Tara, and Grace, who I cannot thank enough for being such great teachers and mentors. And before I knew it, it was dress rehearsal, and then performance time. I had to do two performances in one day, which was pretty nerve-racking, and I’m going to be honest, exhausting. But being onstage, especially during the end of the second show, with everyone cheering in the wings and the audience, was an unforgettable feeling, and it was a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

For years, you took acting because it was a company requirement, right?  There was a breakthrough last year, and I feel like your involvement with acting right now is very different than you ever imagined.  Can you talk about that?

When I first started taking acting classes, I was very timid and careful with the way I approached scenes and exercises, which you can’t really do as an actor. I was generally a much shyer person back then, and I would overthink everything instead of just truly letting the moment carry me, and so I never loved it or connected with it as much as I did with dance. I’m not sure exactly what happened last year, but I think I was becoming more comfortable with myself and opening up as a person around the studio, so I was less afraid of being loud and messing up. Also, I don’t know if this was a big factor, but I started watching Marvel movies, which I know don’t always have “Oscar-winning acting” per se, but I think that franchise made me more intrigued by the idea of becoming someone you are not through acting. I was never a big movie person before that, but watching those made me interested in films with incredible acting that I was able to carry into class with me. So this year, I made it into pre-professional acting and decided to act in the gala show in June, both of which are things I never thought I’d do, and I’ve had such a great time doing them.

Okay, let’s be real, Kailey.  You’re REALLY smart.  (It’s not bragging because you didn’t say it, we said it.)  What are the advantages and disadvantages of having that kind of brain?  How do you balance intellect with the emotional and physical aspects of your being?

Haha, thank you. I mean I’m no Einstein or anything, but I think it’s definitely helped me enjoy certain classes more because I know the combinations, and I’m able to focus more on the artistry of the dance rather than just getting by (which, I’ve been there before, and I will say it’s not as fun). And throughout my daily life it has also generally made me better at managing my time and getting my schoolwork done with my busy dance schedule. I think one disadvantage is that I tend to get impatient when things are not done as efficiently as they can be and that can sometimes put me in a bad mood or make me slightly frustrated. But something else I’ve learned throughout my life is finding the balance between both this “natural intellect” and self-driven effort. Success, in all its forms, is not all about how much “intelligence” you were born with, but also about the amount of work and care you are willing to put into something.

What’s your pet peeve?  What about everyday life annoys you completely out of proportion?

Mansplaining. I don’t know if that really counts as a pet peeve, but it is something that sadly is a part of everyday life and deeply annoys me.

If you could just take a pill or cast a spell and suddenly be an expert at something without working on it, what would it be, and why?

The ability to pass my driver’s test because I seem to be physically incapable of doing so LOL.

What personal quality do you have that you are most proud of?

I guess it would be my self-motivation because it keeps me working to fulfill goals for myself rather than for other people.

If you were an animal, what animal would you be?

A cat. First off, they’re just adorable, and second, I would love to be able to simply bask in the sun and sleep all day.

What’s next?

In the fall I’ll be going to Cornell University! I’m not exactly sure what I’ll be majoring in, but most likely something engineering related, and I’ll be minoring in dance.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I truly have no idea what my life will look like in 10 years, but I might be an engineer if my current interests and plans stay the same. I’ll definitely still have dance in my life, but I’m not sure what form it would take. Maybe I’ll be a dance teacher here, who knows :)

Will you come back to visit Center Stage, or are you gone for good when you’re out the door?

Of course I’ll come back to visit! I’ll miss everyone too much to just leave and never return.