Jaime Rogalla, a 17-year-old senior at Tyrone Area High School has been selected by the Central Pennsylvania Dance Workshop of State College as a Frasier Street Dancer for the spring semester. Rogalla has been a student at CPDW since the fall of 2002. She is the daughter of Sandra of Tyrone and James of Altoona.
“I dance at the Central Pennsylvania Dance Workshop,” said Rogalla. “I have been dancing at this studio since last fall. Anyone can take dance classes there, but I have been selected without audition to be a Frasier Street Dancer. It is a nice program for the simple fact that I have several opportunities to dance out in the public. Performing is very exciting for me because I love to be in front of the audience. For that amount of time, I can capture the attention of the crowd and show them my talent.”
The Frasier Street Dancers is a pre-professional training ground for young people pursuing or contemplating a career in dance. The program provides work experience in various technical and performance-related fields. Members are chosen by audition on the basis of hard work, level of skill, potential and talent. Responsibilities include being teachers assistants and demonstrations for various classes. Past members have gone on to be accepted into performing arts schools, colleges and professional companies throughout the United States.
“I am very interested in a career in dance,” said Rogalla. “I have always told everyone close to me that if I don’t own a dance studio someday or dance in a company, that I won’t be living the type of life I have planned.”
In November 2002, CPDW selected Rogalla as a student to represent its school to take a master ballet class with Herve Palito, artistic coordinator of the Compania Nacional de Danza. The company then performed Multiplicity.
Rogalla has studied ballet, pointe, tap and jazz for eight years. She has been a student at the Tyrone YMCA Dance Academy and the Allegheny Ballet Academy before joining CPDW. Rogalla spends four to six weeks each summer attending dance workshops.
“I started dancing when I was ten years old,” said Rogalla. “I danced down at YMCA in Tyrone. My teacher Autumn Oswald was my first teacher and an unforgettable human being. She is the type of person that leaves a good impression on you for a lifetime. I also danced up at the Allegheny Ballet Company. The training up at ABC has made me the dancer I am today. Deborah Anthony was the director of the school and not only taught me to dance but gave me the wisdom and strength to go for it.
“Now, I dance at the CPDW. Jill Brighton is one of my teachers at this studio and has helped push my shyness away. I have always had the determination, but she has helped to guide me. I have taken a five week program two years ago over the summer at Dickinson College in Carlisle.”
Not only is Rogalla a talented dancer, but she is a high honors student at TAHS as well. She is a senior this year and is currently filling out college applications. Her favorite subject is English because she enjoys writing. She also has an inspirational dancer.
“My favorite dancer is hard to choose because I love a lot of styles. The one dancer that has always caught my eye was Gina Pazcoguin. She used to dance up at ABC with me and had the privilege to further her dancing experience to New York City. She had the determination, strength and wisdom to pursue her dreams. People in this area usually don’t have that opportunity, and she leaped for what she wanted.”
Rogalla’s family is excited about all that she has accomplished. Dance makes her happy and gives her a way to express herself.
“I wasn’t supposed to dance let alone walk when I was little,” said Rogalla. “I had mild cerebral palsy, and the doctors didn’t think that I was going to be able to walk without leg braces. Well, I have overcome their future for me and have learned to dance. I was meant to dance and feel it in my heart.”
