Stellar dancing

Stella Johnson ‘25 has been an integral member of the Mercersburg dance program for the past four years and earned recognition as Mercersburg’s resident ballerina. “Before Mercersburg, I’d only ever done ballet so it was definitely a bit of a steep learning curve trying to start other styles. But because of such a supportive space and community, the transition was smooth and as easy as it could be. It gave me the confidence to explore different things that I hadn’t done before," said Johnson. She has taken her four years here as an opportunity to learn and grow her artistry. Director of Dance, Kelsey Rupp, said, “I've had her since she was a sophomore and I think the biggest growth I've seen is in her performance quality. I would say seeing her perform in the Fall Dance Concert was like watching a totally different person perform than when I first saw her as a sophomore.  Stella was very timid, so I had to often remind her to smile.  And when she got on stage as a dewdrop in the Fall Dance Concert, it was really great. Everyone that I spoke to mentioned that her performance was stellar.” 

Johnson has taken advantage of every opportunity to engage in dance at Mercersburg through original choreography, clubs, and more. “I’ve really liked exploring choreography since I got here. I'm currently working on a group piece that I haven't really done before. So I'm very proud of that. I’m not a choreographer naturally. It takes me a really long time. Some people, they get into the studio and they put on music, and boom, they have choreography. And I'm not like that at all. It takes me hours and hours to come up with anything. So, I’m definitely on the slower side. And then working with peers to bring it all together and teach it to others has also been really kind of a learning curve for me. 

“And I've just really liked getting to become an upperclassman because I get to step into my role as a leader more in the dance studios. This year, I’m a co-captain and in the national honors society for dance arts members at large. You could also call it the dance panel where we help with basically everything: organization, answering questions, adjudicating pieces inside what goes in the concert of student choreography, etc… I also run a recreational dance club. In my recreational dance club I get a lot of people who keep saying “I can’t dance’ but I think everyone can dance as long as you really just go for it and try.”

Rupp knows that Stella’s work ethic and dance discipline have influenced her fellow dancers and Mercersburg students. “I would say that Stella is a leader among her peers. I think that she brings really positive energy into the studio. She wants to work hard. She loves dancing and has a great passion for it. When we’re in the studio, she wants to be dancing, and I think that is evident in her to her peers. She makes other people better and allows her peers to make her better as well. The girls in our dance program have a very collaborative environment, especially this year. And Stella is a huge contributor to that environment.”

As she prepares to leave Mercersburg in the spring, Johnson is looking forward to her pursuit of dance after high school.  “I definitely plan on studying dance in college either as part of a double major or a minor depending on where I go and what program is offered. And beyond that, I would like dance to be a part of my life, but I don't think it is going to be my main career,” said Johnson.