Marlins of Mercy: Avery Earle
Mercy sophomore Avery Earle dances almost every day of the week and is looking to dance in college and beyond. Photo used with permission from Avery Earle
February 10, 2020
“[I started] dancing at 9 and I used to be a gymnast, so that kind of led into me dancing. [Since] I was a gymnast, I just kind of wanted to try dance. I played soccer [too], so I did soccer and dance at the same time, but it got to be too much and I had to make a big decision. My dad was upset because he wanted me to play soccer, but I chose dance. [I had to decide] when I was [only] 11.
My soccer and dance schedule was: [go to] school, then soccer right after school, then leave soccer early to get to dance a little late. I was sad [to give up soccer], but I knew I made the right decision [because] dance was just more appealing. I guess I just liked [dance] more [than soccer]. I wanted to pursue dance more because I liked it and soccer at that point was just exhausting for me.
Now, I like to [dance] all styles, but contemporary [is probably] my favorite. My current studio is Viva [and] I’m looking to pursue dance in college and I want to get my bachelor’s in fine arts and dance. I’d probably want to do commercial dance and then choreograph. In the future, I want to assist choreographers and choreograph dances for other people. When I’m younger, [I want to do] music videos, So You Think You Can Dance if I get on there, and stuff like that.
My [weekly] schedule is: Monday I go straight from school and go from 3:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and it’s an hour away. Tuesdays I usually have off unless there’s a random rehearsal. Wednesdays I go from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Thursdays I also go 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., so I go straight from school, drive to Monroe, dance, and then at 9:30 p.m. I leave and get home at 10:30 p.m. or 11 p.m.. On weekends, I usually have competitions and conventions, so I take classes from famous choreographers in the mornings from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and then from 4 p.m. [until about] 11 p.m., I compete in group dances with my company. [Even though] it’s exhausting, I love it.”