Photo Credit: KYRA BACON
BY KYRA BACON
Cooper City High School has witnessed numerous talented and creative singers, actors and actresses over the years; artists that made their marks on this school, whether in plays or concerts, at art competitions or the annual Senior Variety Show. However, through all the talent, CCHS hasn’t seen anyone quite like senior Skylar Hinds, an extraordinary dancing prodigy.
Since an age of two, Hinds has found a rhythm in her moves, and a perpetual passion to move her feet. When her doctor found that she was bowlegged as a toddler, a disorder that gives the legs an abnormal bone structure, he prescribed a different, less orthodox way of handling the it instead of having her undergo extensive surgery. With a doctor’s note in hand, Hinds stepped into the world of ballet, which served as the cure for her bowlegs. However, she quickly realized that while dancing may be enjoyable, ballet was certainly not her forte.
“Honestly, in the beginning, I hated ballet,” Hinds said. “I didn’t like the fact that it was so disciplined, but when I got into the more creative styles of dancing at age 8 or 9, that’s when I really found my passion.”
Starting out at a local dance studio taught by dancing instructor Leonard Julliard, Hinds knew that this talent would grow to become a major part of her life. For 11 years, she shined in the dance studio, embracing her new creative outlet, so that when she decided to drop the studio and dance on her own, she was more than ready. Hinds focuses on urban dancing, such as hip-hop, but recognizes that the music and dancing scene today is changing. Recently, she has tried out R&B, raw and dub-step.
“The popular styles of music are different now,” Hinds said. “I’m starting to get into new genres of music to get more of the hard-hitting moves, but I also want to try out contemporary to keep the fluidity in my dance.”
Despite her concentration on self-motivation over the years, organizations and competitions have caught Hinds’ eye, prompting her to compete and win a few awards with her dancing skills. When she was younger, she started out with “extra effort” awards, as she calls them, but her rewards have escalated alongside her passion for dance. She won second place in the annual “Pastapalooza” night at Pioneer Middle School in the eighth grade, and competed in the last few Senior Variety Shows here at CCHS. In the last several years, Hinds has gotten a few local paid gigs as well, and hopes that this is just the start.
“Skylar can turn heads from miles away,” senior and friend Patrick O’Dea said. “She knows many phenomenal dancers and her capacity for learning is endless. I think she can absolutely make it big out there.”
Currently, Hinds is not affiliated with any dance studios, but continues to dance whenever she can. Several dance organizations that have workshops and competitions over weekends have made this possible, such as Star Systems, World of Dance, International Dance Challenge and Intrigue.
“Unfortunately, I can’t really do a competitive team right now because school is so hectic,” Hinds said. “But I do compete regularly, and now that I’m 18, the window of opportunity has opened and I intend to take advantage of that.”
Hinds’ dancing life doesn’t revolve around competitions and dance organizations, however. Everyday, when she gets home, she plugs in her music and flips to an unknown song or band and begins to feel the beat. When her moves get repetitive, Hinds starts to incorporate her own original choreography into her dance. By doing this, she has developed an excellent sense of organizing her steps and keeping to a rhythm, a skill she plans to use on her future. Believe it or not, her favorite songs include anything from Justin Bieber’s albums because of the variety of beats used in his music.
“Over the years, Skylar’s choreography has gotten more complex and creative and her moves are more precise,” senior and friend Keren Morheim said. “She’s really good at what she does and her determination to dance really shows.”
With such a tremendous passion, Hinds has gained the support of her friends, family and new audiences. She recalls the many times that her friends have gotten annoyed at her for walking down the school hallways with her headphones in, but she knows that they back up her love for dancing nevertheless. Although her mother also encourages Hinds’ endless determination both financially and encouragingly, she wants Hinds to focus on a real career as well.
“I’ve always promised my mom that I will find a ‘real’ job, but I know I’ll always have dancing on the side,” Hinds said. “She still supports me though, and tells me that as long as you keep your mind in it, then you can do it. She’s my biggest fan.”
While Hinds plans on dancing in her future endeavors, such as signing up for a dance studio near UCF, where she will attend college, she does not anticipate it as her primary career. While she would love to take it to the next level by choreographing and teaching workshops internationally, she knows it’s a long shot. Her true career path is still undecided, but will possibly involve becoming a technical engineer. However, whatever Hinds plans on doing with her future will certainly involve the passion that has drawn out her potential, given her courage, and led her to become the extraordinary dancing prodigy she is now.
“I’ve made dancing such a huge part of my life, and I can’t imagine giving it up,” Hinds said. “I love the fact that you can relieve any emotion you’re feeling through your moves. Everyone can tell if you’re happy, sad or angry because in dancing, you can just let it all out.”
