Graduating Senior Biographies 2025
Congratulations Seniors, EDC loves you always and forever!
VANESSA BROUGHMAN
SEPTEMBER PETERS
ILYANA VERA
VANESSA BROUGHMAN
My name is Vanessa Broughman, and I am a senior at East Lansing High School. I have been dancing for 15 years and have danced at Elite for 4, 3 of those on the competition team. When I was little, my parents decided to have me start doing ballet, as most little girls do. Little did they know that dance would end up being such a big part of my life and lead me to a college dance team and an athletic scholarship. I have tried many sports throughout my life, and none of them went very well. My bad eyesight didn’t help either, and none of them stuck. However, my love for dance persisted. I wanted to take more and more classes and learn different styles, and eventually began in the competition world. Fast forward to COVID. I stopped dancing entirely and didn’t really want to go back. I lost my love for dance. My mom, however, decided that I needed to take at least a few classes a week so that I had something to do and because she knew how much I truly loved dancing, even if I didn’t at the time. So, my freshman year, she enrolled me in tap, hip hop, and lyrical on Wednesday nights at Elite. This decision would change my life and the trajectory of my future. I met Stephanie and immediately felt welcome and at home. She has truly seen my potential and made me the dancer and person I am today. Without her, I would not be where I am. I also met Kathryn, who was new too, and we instantly clicked. It was at Elite that I found my love and passion for dance again, and that is something that I will be forever grateful for. The following year, I joined the competition team, and I had the pleasure of meeting Jamie, who has pushed me to be not only a better dancer but also a better person. All of this has led me to today.
In the fall, I will be dancing on the Siena Heights University Dance Team and majoring in history. In the future, I intend to go to law school and become an attorney. I would like to thank all my teachers for helping me progress in my dance education and get better every day.
To my teammates, thank you for being you and for all the amazing memories that we share. To my family, thank you for being my biggest supporters and number one fans. Thank you for showing up to every competition, performance, and show to cheer me on. To Elite, thank you for making me who I am and allowing me to grow and bringing my love for dance back to life.
-Vanessa Broughman
SEPTEMBER PETERS
Hi, my name is September Peters! At Elite Dance Company, I take lyrical, ballet, and pointe. I am graduating this spring from Williamston High School as Valedictorian. This fall I will be studying biology in the Honors Program at Florida State University. I would like to thank the whole team at Elite for making this such a wonderful environment and my parents for making it all possible! My years here have really grown my love for this art form, and I am looking forward to continuing that passion by dancing for many more years to come!
-September Peters
ILYANA VERA