Anne Plowden

Photo: Luc Jean-Baptiste

@anneplow

"Dance is art, and art has the power to change and influence the world."

Anne's whole world revolves around dance. 

"It has given me passion and an outlook on life that I think a lot of people don't get to experience," she said. "I get to put 100 percent of myself into the thing that I love more than anything, and I don't think many people can say that."

Anne has been dancing since the age of 10. She's previously trained at The Rock School for Dance Education and the Columbia Ballet School. This year, she's dancing professionally with Eglevsky Ballet where she is about to begin rehearsals for the Nutcracker. 

Dance has provided Anne with a lot of unique opportunities, including worldly travels. Some of her best friends are from other countries. She loves the unique, focused goals that dance provides.

"Each rehearsal is a new experience and process and is one in which you learn even more about yourself and break new barriers," she said. 

She advises others to embrace your individuality in dance.  

"Be the best possible YOU that you can be. And I mean YOU. You can't be anyone else when you dance -- it's impossible," Anne said. "Dance is about being unapologetically you and working hard on that every day."

The thing she loves most about dance is the ability to inspire others. 

"It can come from anything -- doing a step well, working hard, or being kind while still trying your best," she said. "Dance is art, and art has the power to change and influence the world."