Graduating Senior Biographies 2024
Congratulations Seniors, EDC loves you always and forever!
MYAH VALLA
NATALIE WESTRATE
SOPHIE HAUSER
ADDIE KARPINSKI
ELAINA TACEY
MYAH VALLA
My name is Myah and I’m a senior at East Lansing High School. Next year I plan on attending Ohio University and majoring in Physical and Health Education. When I was three years old my parents decided to enroll me in ballet classes the first year Elite Dance Company opened. It is safe to say that enrolling me was the right decision. I have been dancing at Elite for fifteen years and have been on the competitive team for five years. Dancing at Elite has changed my life. I have gained a second family and a second home. Dancing here has taught me how to work hard and how to be a teammate. I would like to thank my dance teammates for always being there for me and becoming the friends I will never forget. The memories we have made will always be remembered. I would also like to thank my dance teachers, Kathryn, Jaime, and Stephanie for making Elite a safe and fun dance studio. To Kathryn, thank you for guiding me and encouraging me during any moment. You are always so kind and thoughtful. To Jaimie, thank you for always laughing with me and being such a positive role model. You are so sweet and make me feel loved at every second.
To Stephanie, thank you for always believing in me and pushing me to be the best dancer I can be. I admire your hard work and dedication to this studio. Your love for every dancer has been a big reason why this studio is so wonderful. I look up to you not only as a role model but as a mentor. Thank you for the guidance and support you have given me throughout my life. Your selflessness and dedication truly makes this the best studio. You make my life so much better and I am going to miss you more than ever. Finally thank you to my parents who have not only supported me financially but also put their valuable time into dance. Thanks to them I want to follow in their footsteps and become a teacher as well. Mom, and Dad, thank you for always being there for me and believing in me. I could not be who I am today without your love. You mean the world to me and I can’t thank you enough for your endless support. Thank you everyone for an amazing senior year!
Much love, Myah Valla
NATALIE WESTRATE
My name is Natalie Westrate, and I am a senior at Okemos High School. I have been dancing at Elite since I was four years old, and competing with the team since I was ten, and I couldn’t imagine spending afternoons and weekends anywhere else! Next year, I will be attending Lyman Briggs college at Michigan State University to major in Neuroscience, and I can’t believe that I won’t be dancing with you all. This team has meant more to me than I can put into words, and I can’t thank you all enough for all of the love and support you’ve given me. To my teachers: Thank you for working your hardest, and pushing me to be my best. Mrs. Stephanie, Mrs. Jaime, Mrs. Katherine, and Ms. Julia - I wouldn’t be the person I am today without each of you, and I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. To my teammates: You are the silliest group of people I think I have ever met. Long competition weekends and late-night awards ceremonies with you all are some of my favorite memories. I’ll never forget playing laser tag in a cafeteria after Sunday night solos, or every team holiday party holiday and cider mill trip. I’ve grown up with so many of you guys, and I’ve been made so much better for it. To my mom and dad: Thank you both for putting up with the long nights, weekends, crazy schedules, and endless trails of glitter from costumes for so long. I know how much work you put into making sure Viv and I can do this together, and hope you know how grateful we both are for it. To Viv: First of all, thank you so much for learning how to do your own hair and makeup - I’ve always been happy to help you with it, but I’m also not complaining about the extra hour of sleep we both get on competition days now that you’ve got it covered on your own. But also, I hope you know that duet practices with you are some of the most fun I have ever had, even when you’re making fun of me. Love ya, schwester!
This team has been through so much together this season and I’m so proud of you all. Let’s end it with a great recital and a fantastic nationals! I love you all, and I’ll always be here for you if you need me!
-Natalie Westrate
SOPHIE HAUSER
My name is Sophie Hauser and I have been dancing at Elite for 14 years now. Even though most of those years I spent on the rec team, with Stephanie always saying I should join comp, it has always been my home away from home. After some serious convincing, my parents finally let me join the competition team and I wish that these short three years didn’t have to come to an end.
Being a part of this team has made me grow as not only a dancer, but as a person. These amazing people have brought me out of my shell and made me feel nothing but loved while at the studio. I’m thankful to have met my bestest friends I’ve ever had who have been by my side through many ups and downs. I know that I will stay friends with these girls for the rest of my life. I can’t wait to come back and continue to watch you guys grow as dancers, all of you are going to do great things and I’m grateful to be able to witness it. Not only have I had amazing teammates, but I have some pretty awesome teachers as well. Starting with Kathryn, who I’ve only known for two years, has shown so much love for me and I am so happy that I got to experience her as a coach. Next, Jaime, who lights up my day and always makes me laugh with her comebacks. She has taught me what it means to believe in myself and what I’m capable of and I’m blessed to have had her in my life. Finally Stephanie, where do I even start? She has been my number one fan since the very first class I took from her. Not only has she taught me how to dance, but she has taught me what it means to be a good role model and friend. Stephanie has been so supportive of me while being on this team and I am excited for the day when I can call her a friend rather than just a coach. I can not thank this team and my family enough for this experience. Especially this year, I have never been surrounded by more love and support. I love each and every one of these girls with all my heart and thank them for all the memories I will cherish forever.
Although my dance career is ending, I am continuing my golf journey at University of Detroit Mercy this fall. On my new team, I will bring with me everything I’ve learned here at EDC and will never forget who my first teammates were.
Love, Sophdawg
ADDIE KARPINSKI
Hi! My name is Addie and I go to Okemos High School. This is my fifth and final year here at Elite and my eleventh year competing. As of right now, I plan to go to Adrian College, where I will be playing golf and studying biochemistry. I also hope to find a studio to teach at so that I’m able to continue nurturing my love for dance.
I want to thank my parents for their endless support, time, and patience with me all of these years. They have been there for me through all of my ups and downs and I am so thankful to have them in my corner. Also, a big shout out to my big sister Whitney for never failing to miss a competition and always being there for me however I need. Truly the best dance sister ever. I also want to say a huge thank you to this amazing team. Everyone at Elite is so special and dear to my heart. I truly could not ask for a better team and I would not be here without all of their love and friendship. Finally, I want to thank my teachers; Ms. Stephanie, Ms. Jaime, and Ms. Kathryn. They welcomed me onto this team with open arms and endless amounts of encouragement and love. I cannot even begin to fathom who I would be without them and all that they have taught me. I will be forever grateful for dance and all of the lessons it has taught me, and the people that have come into my life because of it. Thank you Elite.
-Addie Karpinski
ELAINA TACEY
Hi! I’m Elaina Tacey and I’m a senior! Next year I will be attending the University of Michigan to study biochemistry! I chose to spend my last year as a competitive dancer with edc and it was genuinely the best decision I could’ve made for myself. Walking into a new studio going in blind was a big step for me, especially with it being my senior year. I’m from a small town out in the middle of nowhere called Lake Odessa, and I commute about an hour to and from dance everyday. I have danced since I was 2 years old at my hometown studio. I’ve loved dancing ever since I can remember, but at the end of my junior year I wanted to venture out, and by some grace of god I found elite. I truly do believe that it was meant to be from the very start. I remember walking into that summer lyrical class seeing a huge smile plastered on Jaime’s face, Maddie, Ilyana, and Zoe welcoming me with open arms, quite literally. Little did I know that these girls would soon be my absolute best friends and elite would be a place I could call home. Being surrounded by such a strong, dedicated group of people is such an empowering feeling. The teachers at elite are some of the most incredible women I’ve had the privilege of getting to know. Kathryn, coming into solo practice everyday knowing I would always be supported no matter what type of day I had was always a comfort in the hectic year I’ve had. I would walk out feeling so supported and heard. I will never forget to always “dance for myself, and not anyone else.” Jaime, even in this short year we’ve had you’ve taught me not only how to become a better dancer, you’ve taught me so much about myself. I remember before going on stage for my first solo you filled me with so much confidence in just the short conversation. It is so that apparent that you pour your absolute heart and soul into every class you teach. And Stephanie, thank you for believing in me and being a constant source of motivation since the beginning. Meeting you for the first time and getting the biggest hug as if you had known me forever was such a relief. You and the environment you have created along with these wonderful people have genuinely touched me forever. I can’t thank you enough for welcoming me with open arms and providing me with a place where I could be myself. Along with helping me find my best friends:) I am FOREVER grateful for elite dance company and will cherish this year for the rest of my life.
-Elaina Tacey