Dance major shares her dreams and college experiences

By: Caroline Tanner

Caption: Rylee McGirr ’22 displays her dance skills during a photoshoot. –Photo credit: Alisha Rudd (contributed photo)

When it came time to choose a college, Rylee McGirr, a sophomore from Lake Wylie, S.C., needed to find a school where she could continue to follow her passion of dance. She made the decision to come to Anderson University to major in dance with a minor in kinesiology in 2020 to continue her studies in the art of dance and the science behind movement and injury prevention. McGirr has been dancing since she was 3 years old, and she exclaimed, “I don’t see myself doing anything else.”

McGirr heard about one of her friends coming to Anderson University in 2018, and she started her research on the dance program. McGirr knew she wanted a smaller school, and that the dance program included classes of jazz and tap which are her favorite styles. The dance program being a Christian environment attracted her to the school. McGirr states, “The dance program is like a big family. The faculty and students are so supportive and kind. It’s just a really encouraging environment, and all the faculty here are here to help and support you which is very evident.”

McGirr started teaching her own classes at her studio, Adagio School of Dance, for four years and assisted for about two years prior. She fell in love with teaching and realized that is what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. After graduation, she hopes to find a job around Anderson or at her home studio to start her career. Her dance teachers made an impact on her and turned dance into something she is passionate about. She wants to do the same for other dancers and give them an outlet where they can express themselves.

One thing that challenges McGirr about being a dance major is that she must take about twice as many classes as normal majors since many dance classes count as one credit. On top of that, she has rehearsals for ensembles, musicals, and dance concerts. Dance majors must put in hours to practice outside of class to prepare for skills test and performance exams. McGirr stated, “It gets hard finding time to spend time with your family and friends. You have to sacrifice some things being a dance major.”

McGirr says that she loves the dance program despite the heavy workload because the faculty and dancers at Anderson are encouraging and uplifting. She has also seen how much she has improved since starting at Anderson. McGirr said, “Because I have been dancing for a long time, I see the level at which my dancing was back then compared to now. I can see how much improvement I have made, and that motivates me to keep going.” McGirr is confident that her studies at Anderson University will prepare her for her dream career and pave a clear path for a successful future.