Carina Young (BFA Dance: Choreography and Performance) says all she’s ever wanted to do is dance and travel. At UNCG’s School of Dance, she found both. So far, she’s been to New York City, South Africa, and Italy, and she’s just begun dancing her way through life and the world.
Big Apple Dreams
Young started her journey at age ten at a dance studio in Charlotte. She continued her studies as a dance major at Northwest School of the Arts:
“Being in Charlotte, I was fortunate to be surrounded by so many arts experiences. When Alvin Ailey came to town on tour, I was able to take part in workshops with the company and got connected with people that led me to receive a scholarship to go to New York City for a weeklong intensive. New York is where I really fell in love with dance and knew that I really wanted to do this.”
She set her sights on going to New York for college, but when those plans didn’t work out, her dance teacher at Northwest suggested UNCG’s School of Dance:
“She said it was a strong BFA program, and then when I started looking at UNCG, I realized it had everything I was looking for—the arts, sports, and community. I didn’t want to stay so close to home, but I gave it a try, and it turned out to be just the right place for me.”
Because she has family in New York, Young found it easy to travel there for dance experiences:
“Throughout college, I continued to do Ailey summer intensives, and I did an internship with the Alvin Ailey camp. I also did an intensive with Ronald K. Brown, and I made friends and connections. I have a mentor with the Camille A. Brown Company. I’m sure I’ll be led back to New York at some point.”
Captivated by Cape Town’s Cultural Scene
Having been bit by the travel bug, Young sought out a travel abroad experience in her sophomore year at UNCG, and off she went to Cape Town, South Africa:
“That was amazing—being immersed in so much culture and being able to network with people there! A fun time was when I was interviewed by a radio reporter. We talked about my life as a dancer and other things about being a student on a study abroad program in Cape Town.
“I just loved everything about being there—the food, the professors, and learning about South African history.”
Lights, Camera, Italy
“I’m not going to lie. Coming back after studying abroad was the hardest thing ever for me. I had been exposed to something beyond myself. I got back to the states, and my spirit said I needed more.”
So in her junior year, Young pulled out the passport again and traveled to Italy on a UNCG Gilman Scholarship for the School of Dance’s program “Dance in the Heart of Italia—Screen Dance and the Landscape,” which offers an immersive experience in screen dance, dance performance, and production, led by Professor Robin Gee.
“That’s one of the important things I gained from UNCG was learning about dance films. I was introduced to it here and completely inspired to do it in Italy. I have started making my own dance films, and it’s something I’m really excited about pursuing in my career.”
Currently, Young is editing the film Ballerina Gone Loose, which she created in a pilot program through her business “Explore the Move,” which provides headshots, mentorship, and dance experiences for young students.
On the Go, but Grounded
Young’s sense of adventure is unbridled, and her UNCG experience shows it. And she has some solid advice for future students. She hopes they will take chances as she did and experience all that UNCG has to offer:
“Take a risk! There are so many opportunities provided here. Watch for those doors to open. Step out of yourself and try something new. Apply for those programs and scholarships. Take advantage of every single opportunity.
“Being here, I feel like I’ve had a lot of courageous moments. I’ve learned to be authentic and persistent. My dance training and my artistic voice have grown so much here, but I’ve also learned the importance of being curious and believing in myself.”
Story by Terri W Relos
Photography by Brandon Demery and Antonio Brown
