Life's a dance: Central VPA student has passion for dance
Central VPA student has passion for dance
 |
| Erica Burrus photo/ Ricardo Rique-Sanchez, 18, practices his ballet leaps at a studio in Central Visual and Performing Arts High School, 3125 S. Kingshighway Blvd. |
 
 |
That was until other students at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School, 3125 S. Kingshighway Blvd., started boasting about his dance skills.
Ray Parks, Rique-Sanchez's godfather and chairmen of the dance department at Central, was told about the sophomore who tore up the dance floor during a school function a few years ago."I knew he could be an outstanding ballet dancer if I could convince him to do it," said Parks, who had witnessed the gym performance. "He had good rhythm."
Parks didn't chase after Rique-Sanchez, who is now a senior. He waited until the time was right to take him under his wing.
Parks noticed Rique-Sanchez around the studio observing dancers. He would then sneak into a dance studio and practice maneuvers he saw, Park said.
One day he saw Rique-Sanchez in the hall.
"He came up to me at my locker and asked if I wanted to dance," said Rique-Sanchez , 18. "I told him I would take jazz and tap, but no ballet. I saw men with ballet tights and I wasn't interested in dancing in tights."
Parks enrolled him in a beginner's class and introduced him to some basic tap maneuvers. From there, jazz was incorporated.
Rique-Sanchez learned quick. Parks knew he had a good work ethic and wanted to challenge him so during his junior he was taking an advanced class comprised of tap, jazz and balllet. The grade for the class was based on all three components so Rique-Sanchez just dealt with ballet.
Now, he looks at ballet in a whole new light.
"There's a lot more to ballet than just tights," he said. "Most real ballets are romantic. Ballet defines me. I like romance."
While he describes himself as a romantic, Rique-Sanchez doesn't have a girlfriend. Between dance, sports and academics, he doesn't have time, he said.
The five-foot-nine-inch 160 pound dancer can turn heads.
"It's like he's a rooster in a the barn yard," Parks said.
Girls aren't are priority for Rique-Sanchez, who will graduate May 15. He's focused on college and dance. He plans to major in dance and possibly aviation.
Rique-Sanchez plans to attend college in the fall. He has auditioned for several schools hoping to get a scholarship. He didn't make the cut with Juilliard in New York City. He tried out for Stephens College - an all girl's school in Columbia, Mo., that gives scholarships to boys for theater and dance - and is expecting to learn his fate soon.
On March 21, he had an audition at Butler University in Indianapolis, Ind. He might consider the University of Missouri-Kansas City and University of Arizona, where he has been accepted as a student without a scholarship.
"Ballet to me is the hardest dance there is. You have to be physically strong to jump high, turn and be a terrific partner," said Rique-Sanchez.
Besides being a dancer, Rique-Sanchez is also an athlete. As a freshman he ran the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter events for the school's track team.
During his sophomore year he played basketball, baseball and again ran track. This year he doesn't take to much flack from his baseball teammates about dance.
There might be a little comment here and there, but it's in good clean fun, he said.
Rique-Sanchez also dances outside of school at the Center of Creative Arts, 524 Trinity Ave., in University City and Alexandra' School of Ballet in Chesterfield where he does classical ballet. His most recent performance was in a production of "Copellia" at the Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
The ballet is about an inventor who creates a human-sized dancing doll. A villager falls for the doll and postpones his love for another woman, who shows him his silly mistake by acting like a doll.
"It made me feel like a professional dancer for a second, even though I'm not," he said.
An important goal of his is to become a principal dancer for a traveling ballet company.
Parks, who ran his own dance studio for 20 years at various locations, believes Rique-Sanchez has the talent to achieve that goal.
He has a good work ethic, likes a challenge and is masculine. Strong boys are needed for ballet because they have to lift their partner, Parks said.
Rique-Sanchez Mexican, Puerto Rican, Dominican and German ancestors and was born in Alaska. He grew up in North County, followed by South St. Louis.
His love for hip-hop dance began in sixth grade and it's something he does in his spare time.
Dance allowed his dream of being a pilot to come true - but in a different way.
"The closet thing to flying without mechanical wings is being a dancer," he said.
Parks has an eye for talent. He takes pride in selecting a student to take under his wing when he sees potential, determination and commitment.
For the past few years that has been Rique-Sanchez, who lives with Parks in his Chesterfield home.
"When I get through with him there will be another," Parks said.
