Interviewed a Dancer for a feature story. Alia plans to open her own business when she graduates college.

1. KramerSansone
Dance is a grueling competitive, athletic and exhausting sport. Many people through its
story telling love dance and ability to compete against other people. At a young age of four, Alia
Irvin knew she wanted to become a dancer. Either by being on a dance team or end up being a
dance coach and even owning her own studio.
“I am surprised she was not born wearing dancing shoes,” Ann Irvin said.
“Dance is just an escape for me. Whenever I feel down or all alone I just want to dance
because it cheers me up,” Irvin said.
Irvin from the ages of five to 14 years old danced at this studio joined a few studios to
begin her dance practices. Joining places like Arising Stars to develop her flexibility in dance
and Darciees School of dance where she learned how to tap dance and develop her favorite style
of dance Hip Hop. After Darciees Irvin attended DeAnn Renee to continue to dance to get better
and execute her moves with style.
“I just loved her enthusiasm when she was younger and running around the place,”
Darciee Blanchard said, “I have no doubt she will continue doing what she loves as long as she
puts her mind to it.”
During Irvin’s sophomore year, she joined the school dance team at Lafayette High
School. Where she would perform during pep assemblies, half time shows of the football game
and basketball games. Irvin would do this until she graduated in 2015.
“During the school week I would have to be at Lafayette by 6:30 a.m. to practice,” Irvin
said.

2. There has been some conflict debating on whether dance is a sport or not.
“Dance is a lot of work and memorization. Being athletic and productive to dance is what
makes it a sport,” Irvin said. “You have to work together to accomplish your dance. You have to
have great stamina and have to have your heart into the dance and go for it all.”
After high school, Irvin decide to continue her education to Northwest Missouri State
University. She hoped to find a place to dance there and it came on the form of Northwest Dance
Company. Irvin has been in Dance Company for four semesters. It should have been five but the
passing of her grandmother made her rethink why her reason to dance was.
“I continue to dancing for my grandma because she enjoyed how I dance and would be
proud of me continuing to dance,” Irvin said. “I should have never took a semester off because I
would not want her to be mad at me so for now on I will still dance.”
Irvin had a taste of what she wanted to do for living by working for Jonna Gallegos at
Studio Psalms in Saint Joseph, Mo. She taught young girls ages range from five to 15 how to
learn the dance style of Hip Hop.
“I was so excited when alia applied because we did not have a Hip Hop program yet so
she was our first to start it,” Gallegos said.
Irvin goes to school to gain a business management degree and plans to open her own
dance studio. The ideal plan for her is to open in up on the west coast or at least three hours away
from Saint Joseph, Mo.
Irvin’s next performance will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Ron Houston Center for the
Performing Arts/ Mary Linn Auditorium.