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Syracuse Ballet Dancer Grows Through COVID-19 Lockdown Syracuse ballet dancer has learned life lessons from the pandemic

Local Dancer Learned Life Lessons in the Mist of the Pandemic

By Krizia Williams

Krizia Williams: Nataniel Taylor has been dancing since he was 6-yars-old. For him this is how he communicates.

Nataniel Taylor: “Ballet is the way people express themselves. It’s what I want to do for a living.”

Williams: His teacher is Charles Haislah. Hailsah says during COVID Nataniel couldn’t go to school…but he could dance and he spent a lot more time doing it.

CHARLES HAISLAH: “I would say it was to an advantage and it gave the kid a level up should I say. So when things open back up they were ready.”

Williams: How did Taylor get better? By Mastering each dance move he put his mind to.

Taylor: “I got better. My technique really advanced.”

Williams: Last year, like 13-year-olds all over the world, Taylor had to be home schooled. Now that he’s back in the classroom, he balances dance practice five days a week, performing and…his school work.

Taylor: “It’s challenging but I try to get my schoolwork done at schoolwork done at school so when I get home I can stretch and do everything before ballet.”

Williams: Haislah says Taylor can learn a lot from this transition from COVID lock down to now. Things like managing priorities, time and maintaining balance and that is going to take his to places like the Boston summer camp.

Haislah: “You have a lot going on. There are some days where I get the phone call saying ‘the kids have a lot of homework,’ and I believe academics first. School. Ballet. Get this done and then you can have this.”

Williams (stand-up): “Nataniel says looking forward he is very excited about the Boston Ballet Summer
Intensive in which he’ll be in attendance.”

Williams: Dancers must audition for the summer intensive program in Boston. Taylor was among the few who earned a full-ride scholarship.

Taylor: “I want to dance with Boston Ballet their company. That’s the dream.”

Williams: He says this summer is his time to shine…for NCC News Krizia Williams.

SYRACUSE N.Y. (NCC News) – The COVID-19 Pandemic has created challenges for many athletes. Local teenager Nataniel Taylor is performing a balancing act as he works to keep in motion his passion for dance and success in the classroom.

Taylor said he works very hard to stay on beat during difficult times. His teacher, Charles Haislah, said dance is poetry and is a language in itself.

“Ballet is the way people express themselves. It’s what I want to do for a living,” Taylor said.

During COVID Taylor couldn’t go to school, Haislah said, but he always found a way to hit the dance floor.

“I would say it was to an advantage and it gave the kid a level up should I say. So when things open back up they were ready,” Haislah said.

Last year,  like 13-year-olds worldwide, Taylor had to be homeschooled. But now that he is back in the classroom, Taylor balances dance practices five days a week, performances, and school work.

“It’s challenging but I try to get my schoolwork done at schoolwork done at school so when I get home I can stretch and do everything before ballet,” Taylor said.

Haislah said Taylor can learn a lot from this transition from COVID lockdown to now. Things like managing priorities, time, and maintaining balance will take him to places like the Boston Ballet Summer Intensive.

Those who desire to attend the summer program must audition. This year Taylor auditioned, was accepted and is among the few who earned a full-ride scholarship.

“I want to dance with Boston Ballet, their company. That’s the dream,” he said.

Taylor said he is looking forward to getting better at the summer program and that this year is his time to shine.

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