| Ballerina trades Joffrey for AU in Motion BY ADRIENNE FRANK 
Leah Rothschild isn’t your typical freshman. Last year, the 21-year-old Rothschild traded her tutu for a textbook, going from New York City’s acclaimed Joffrey Ballet Ensemble to the College of Arts and Sciences. After dancing professionally for three years, Rothschild, a psychology major, simply decided it was time to explore other interests. “To be a dancer, you have to be extremely focused. You have to live and breathe dance,” said Rothschild. “I just decided to broaden my focus.” The Massachusetts native began dancing at the tender age of three; by her freshman year of high school, Rothschild knew she wanted to go pro. “That’s when things got serious,” she said. “While my friends were doing sports or hanging out after school, I was at the dance studio every night.” After she graduated from Walnut Hill High School—a performing arts school in Natick, Mass.—Rothschild moved to the City to join the Joffrey. “The New York experience was an eye opener,” she laughed. “I definitely toughened up a bit.” Rothschild’s stint with the Joffrey helped her grow stronger, both physically—she spent seven hours a day in rehearsal—and emotionally. “Looking back on it, the thing that sticks out the most to me is the relationships I formed with other people in my company,” she said. “They became a second family to me. It wasn’t an easy three years, and without those friendships, it would’ve been even more difficult.” And while the transition from dancer to student hasn’t been a snap—“It’s a little hard to go from living by myself in New York City to living in a dorm with hundreds of other people!”—Rothschild is embracing the undergrad
experience. “I hadn’t sat at a desk or taken a test in three years, so I was a little worried,” she laughed. “But, I set high standards for myself, so I know it will be OK. “Achieving one big goal I set for myself gave me a lot of confidence. I know I’m capable of achieving another big goal.” When the Spanish minor isn’t working on her language skills or being a “big sister” to the other girls in her residence hall, Rothschild still dances. A member of AU in Motion, Rothschild will dance in three pieces during the group's recital, April 27-29 at the Katzen’s Studio Theater. Dancing for recreation has both helped Rothschild keep in shape and allowed her to rediscover what first drew her to ballet. “By the end of my career, I was a little disillusioned; it had lost some of that shimmer it had growing up,” she said. “It’s become fun again, though. “Dancing has always been a huge part of my identity, and it always will be,” Rothschild continued. “But I’m really looking forward to revamping my identity here at AU. My gut tells me I’m in the right place.” |
