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local Friday 12 May 2023

Ariana Lake:

“You choose what affects you. You decide”

(Oranjestad)—Ariana Lake opportunity as a chance would get a long skirt and
is a young lady of 16 that to improve her Dutch for a shirt with sleeves, be-
has been dancing since when she will eventually cause I was led to believe
she was very young. She further her studies in The that I didn’t look good in
describes herself as some- Netherlands. the clothes that the oth-
one who loves to read, ers were wearing. I would
dance and cook. In an in- “I’m a perfectionist and I sometimes also be exclud-
terview with our reporter, want the right foundation ed from performing at cer-
Ariana shared stories about by the time I leave for The tain showcases and events,
her childhood, her expe- Netherlands, so that I won’t just because I didn’t have
riences as a dancer how have any struggles with the the desired body,” she re-
these experiences in the language. That’s my next marked.
dance world helped her step,” she expressed.
grow in different aspects of She added that this was
her life. Ariana started dancing something that was really
since she was six years hard for her to deal with
Ariana says that she had old. Her first experience and her self-confidence
a lot of happy memories; in dance was a workshop suffered severely because
there were many things for ballet and Venezuelan of it: “It’s not something
she enjoyed. One of these folkloric dance. The next I’d ever wish upon anyone
things was going out every two years, she danced in else.”
day as a child, because the Venezuelan consulate.
there was also some activ- After that, she joined the On the hand, however,
ity to do. dance group Kids & Youth that experience motivat-
in Action, where she has ed her to improve in other
She also shared that she been a part of for eight aspects. She shared that
loved growing up was the years now. because she was feeling
fact that she was very close excluded, she needed to
to her family, because She told our reporter that work harder so she can
whenever there was a cel- one of her motivations for prove to people that she For Ariana, dancing was a Ariana’s message for the
ebration of any sort, every- starting dancing was to is just as capable, regard- tool that helped her grow youth of Aruba is this:
one would gather at her have fun and to meet new less of her size; that she can in other aspects of her life. “Whatever is for you, will
house and come play and people. By the time she de- dance just as good and Dancing made her more come to you. Maybe you
eat. cided to join Kids & Youth in maybe even better than responsible and disciplined; didn’t get everything you
Action, she wanted to learn the other dancers. she learned how to lead wanted, but that was be-
Ariana is currently in her different types of dance. and how to set priorities. cause it wasn’t for you;
senior year of high school. “That was something that there something better out
After graduating, she will Ariana has a fuller figure, me stronger and better in In terms of leadership, she there for you. You control
be following the program and some people may say my craft. Years later, I’m explained that she had the what affects you. Maybe
called Academic Founda- that her body does not fit now one of few dancers opportunity to teach chore- someone told you some-
tion Year (AFY) at the Uni- the standards expected who knows how to dance ographies to other younger thing mean or rude, but it’s
versity of Aruba, because for a dancer. This affected all genres, I know what it dancers. Through this, she up to you if you’re going to
she still is not sure which ac- Ariana for some time, be- means to bring attitude to learned how to teach chil- be sad of if you are just go-
ademic direction to take cause she felt very exclud- a performance, to get the dren, how to talk to them ing to ignore those nega-
yet. ed from her peers in some crowd excited. I know what and how to set an example tive comments. You are the
aspects. it means to train hard, be- for them. She shares that decider of what affects you
She explained that with cause if I don’t get some- this reflects in her studies. and you are the one who
AFY, she will have the op- “Excluded in the sense that thing the first try, I’ll prac- For example, whenever will have to decide what
portunity to experience a I couldn’t wear the same tice at home until I do. That there was a group project, you’re going to do with it.
bit of every career path types of performance out- was something that made she was often chosen to Let this be a motivation for
and see which one she likes fits. For example, if the oth- me realize that you choose lead her group mates. This you, to show yourself and
best to continue studying. er girls were to wear a mini what affects you. You de- was a quality she acquired other people that you are
She will also be taking this skirt and sleeve-less shirts, I cide,” she expressed. thanks to dancing. more than capable.”q