This year, for the first time ever, I had to hire and assistant to help me read through the admission essays for my dance school. Some people think that it is odd that I have my prospective students write essays when they want to become better dancers, but I run a very elite school and I must know the hearts of these students before I allow them to represent the name of my school.

I found that by having them write an application essay, it would help me to weed out the ones that were not completely serious about spending their lives as a dancer. At this school, dancing is much more than just a hobby or a sport. It is a lifestyle and I expect my students to maintain the structure and discipline that is set forth for them as soon as they get accepted.

This year, I offered the applicants the choice of sending in an essay or doing an online essay. I got such a tremendous response that I knew I certainly could not go through them all by myself and still be starting classes on time. I had one of my senior dancers come and help me with this. She thinks like I do, therefore would see in the students what I do.