By Carly Stidham
Photo courtesy of the Stidham family
I’ve been dancing for as long as I can remember. My mom says I started when I was 3, twirling around the house to whatever music was playing. Seeing how much I loved it, she signed me up for dance lessons, and I haven’t stopped since.
When I was 6, I joined the performance team at Artistic Motion Dance in Gilbert, here in Arizona, which was so much fun because I got to dance with girls my age at local events. A year later, I auditioned for the studio’s competitive team and earned a spot! Now, at 11 years old, I’ve been competing for the last four years. Competition is never scary for me, it’s always exciting! I love being on stage, showing off what I’ve worked so hard on.
Earlier this year, something incredible happened. I was cast to walk the runway for Dragonwing, a brand I love, at Los Angeles Fashion Week last month. It was a dream come true to walk in their show. Dragonwing makes the kind of activewear and dancewear I wear all the time, so it felt amazing to represent them on such a big stage.
Walking for Dragonwing at LA Fashion Week was an unforgettable experience. But it wasn’t just about the runway. Meeting Allison Herman, the CEO of Dragonwing, was really inspiring. Her vision for the brand is all about encouraging girls like me to live boldly and authentically, which really spoke to me. I also got to meet and bond with dancers from all over the country who were modeling for the brand, and we made some great memories together. Sharing that experience with other passionate dancers made the whole event even more special.
Now, I’m proud to say I’m a brand ambassador for Dragonwing! It feels great to represent a company I love and believe in. I’m still totally focused on my dance training and getting ready for my next competitions at Artistic Motion Dance, but I’m also excited about what might come next. Maybe there will be more runway shows or fashion opportunities in my future; who knows?
For now, I’m back at the studio, working hard, but I’ll always carry the memory of walking LA Fashion Week with me. Dancing teaches me so much, and now I know the skills I’m developing will continue to open doors to opportunities I never imagined.
