Priyanka Chilukuri (12) first stepped into the dance studio when she was four years old, earlier than most of her peers.

“I’ve always had a passion for performing and dancing,” she said. “I just love being on stage.”

Passionate about Indian classical dance, Priyanka completed her arangetram, a two and a half hour solo debut performance that marks the graduation of a dancer, in the summer after her sophomore year.

“Dance is mostly gestures, so it’s pretty easy to understand and follow. I’d like to think that I entrance my audience with my animated face,” Priyanka said. “Genuine expression can cause other people to also feel it. If you fake it, it’s not going to work. People can tell after a while.”

Dance has taught Priyanka valuable life skills, including persistence and determination.

“A quote from my dance teacher is ‘Dance is 10 percent physical work and 90 percent mind,’” Priyanka said. “Doing the act of dancing is only a little bit of it, the physical part, 90 percent is having willpower, maintaining your commitment to the dance, working hard and actively thinking while you’re dancing.”

After spending years polishing and completing her own arangetram, Priyanka hopes to share her passion with other young girls.

“Now, I teach children,” she said. “I hope to share my passion with them. Maybe, hopefully, have them continue dance and share this beautiful art form with them.”

Not only does Priyanka like to bring enthusiasm to the stage, she also hopes to spread positivity wherever she goes. One of longtime close friends, Chetana Kalidindi (12), spoke to her animated personality.

“I have known Priyanka for ten years now, and she’s not even my best friend anymore–she’s really become my sister,” she said. “Every single day, without fail, even if I am in the worst of moods, five minutes with Priyanka can make me start crying from laughter. She’s so bubbly and she’s so funny and she really, really cares about people.”

Priyanka hopes to spread her positive energy to those around her.

“I like to encourage other people to be in my jovial mood,” she said. “I’m hoping that my charisma helps others, especially in this stressful environment.”