Naming her studio after the Japanese word for “ballet” was an obvious choice for Michelle. Not because she’s Japanese herself, but because she was impressed and inspired by the Japanese dancers she danced with, taking a liking to their culture immediately. “Responsibility” is an important value, and they brought new meaning to it by not only being responsible for their dancing, but for their space as well, cleaning the studio every week. Disciplined and consistent, the dancers treated each other, their teachers, and their art—ballet—with utmost respect, something that left a lasting impression on Michelle and what she hopes to cultivate in her students. Ballet can be demanding, and sometimes it’s easy to forget dancers are humans too. There’s life outside the studio, so it’s important to strike a balance. Values like responsibility, perseverance, dedication, discipline, and consistency are under the spotlight in ballet dancing, but Michelle believes they are helpful in life as well, and she hopes that the guidance she provides in class can take her students beyond the stage and studio. Ballet can also be fun and incredibly rewarding. So come on down to BA RĒ, where you can look forward to dance your worries away, but also pick up a value or two to dance your way through life.