Waski puts her best foot foward

It's not uncommon for young girls to dress up in satin tutus embellished with sparkles and rhinestones, and twirl around until the crinkly, netted skirting flares out, forming a wide ring around their hips. Imbued with new found confidence, a few ambitious ballerinas may even attempt to execute a few "grand jetes," or leaps, from one end of their living room to the other.

Fantasizing about performing ballet moves in a festive costume and doing the work necessary to succeed in this highly competitive, creative field are worlds apart, though.

Paulina Waski, 15, learned this first hand when she enrolled last year in the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (JKO) School, a national training program for young dancers at the American Ballet Theater in New York. Not only is Paulina committed to learning all of the skills and dance techniques necessary for a career in dance but she is also willing to sacrifice activities typically associated with teenage life in the suburbs.

For example, Paulina doesn't attend high school with her local friends. Instead, she participates in a virtual school and takes courses online so that she is able to commute back and forth to classes six days a week at the prestigious New York City ballet company.

"She is technically gifted for her age, and has outstanding potential," said Franco De Vita, principal of the JKO School. "Paulina has a positive attitude at all times with the staff and other students alike. She has a lovely, easy quality of movement, a joy for dancing, and is a natural performer."

De Vita, a renowned dancer and former principal faculty member of the School of Hartford Ballet and the bachelor's degree program at the University of Hartford, initially noticed Paulina four years ago when she participated in a summer intensive workshop sponsored by the American Ballet Theater. According to her mother, Norma Kwan-Waski, shortly afterwards he asked Paulina to enroll in the children's pre-professional program.

Much to Paulina's dismay, though, her parents decided to turn down the offer. "Paulina was devastated," Norma admitted, "But, I couldn't have her commuting there on her own."

As co-owner, with her husband, John, of John Waski Design, she would be unable to accompany Paulina on her daily commute. A compromise was struck and Paulina attended one class in Manhattan each week until she graduated from middle school.

Last fall, Paulina began her freshman year of high school online and enrolled in the JKO School full-time.

"She has sacrificed so much to do ballet," Norma said. "She was willing to give up birthday parties and time with her friends and everything that other kids do so that she could do ballet. And, it's all paid off. We knew even back then that her heart and her passion are in ballet."

After observing her up close this past year, De Vita agreed. "Paulina is a hard-working, motivated student," he said. "In class, Paulina always gives her best; she is a sensitive dancer and always applies corrections with intelligence."

Norma and John are pleased that their daughter has the opportunity to study with "some of the world's leading ballet masters and ballerinas."

"The entire faculty is all amazing dancers, choreographers and ballet masters from around the world," Norma noted. "In most cases when someone local mentions ballet lessons it would be thought of as an `after school activity,' however, to be recognized by Mr. Franco De Vita and invited to join the school is an honor and testament of the talent and skill."

And, although Paulina conceded that she has made some personal sacrifices to dance, one gets the feeling that she wouldn't have it any other way. "I love it so much," she exclaims, enthusiastically. "Words can't describe how I feel when I dance."

The JKO School accepts approximately five to 10 new students in each level of the pre-professional division, explained Molly Schnyder, Director of Training Programs for the ABT. "Usually the top level (Level 7) has the most places available since many of our students `graduate' and move on to start their professional careers. Paulina is moving up to Level 7 this year after being in Level 6 for one year. She will be the youngest in Level 7."

In next couple of years, Paulina hopes to join ABT's studio company and to eventually be featured in the company as a principal dancer.

Although she received all As in her coursework this year, Paulina doesn't foresee college in her near future. Her goals include performing leading roles in her favorite ballets, Romeo and Juliet and Swan Lake.

Six days a week, Monday through Saturday, Paulina wakes early in the morning so that she could complete schoolwork before catching a 1:30 train to New York. She likes to arrive early for her 4:30 p.m. dance class so that she has time to change clothes and warm up. The next several hours are spent taking classes in ballet, modern, pointe and technique. According to its website, the curriculum "combines scientific principals with elements from the classic French, Italian and Russian schools of training. Consistent with the stylistic requirements of ABT, the JKO School aims to provide dancers with a rich knowledge of classical technique and the ability to adapt to all styles and techniques of dance." Tuition for this rigorous program is $5,500.

This spring Paulina was selected to perform in the ABTKids Performance at Lincoln Center. She was part of the "Friends Dance" from the ballet "Coppelia."

"It was a wonderful experience for Paulina," Norma said. "She was backstage with all of the company members."

Paulina said that she was nervous but excited to be performing at the infamous New York City arts venue. "I really loved it," she said.

Ironically, Paulina was not enthralled with ballet when she took her first class while still in preschool.

When Norma observed her then-3-year-old walking on her toes all over her house, she immediately assumed that she would have an affinity for dance. It turns out that she was correct, however, at the time Paulina was not terribly interested in the formal dance classes her mother enrolled her in. "I quit," Paulina explained.

Years later, Paulina and her sister Nadia resumed lessons at Ballet Etudes in Norwalk under the tutelage of former ABT soloist Denise Lewis Grothman. Paulina credits Grothman with preparing her for the JKO program. "She taught me their specific technique," Paulina noted.

Nadia, 18, is a dance and biology major at University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

The Waski family recently learned that Paulina is a candidate for the Dizzy Feet Foundation scholarship, a program which supports dance education for talented youth in the United States.

"Paulina performed her variation from La Bayadere, Kindgom of the Shades, and we look forward to hearing her results later this year," Waski said.