Teen to appear on ‘Dance’
Dancer sharpened skills this past year
FORT LAUDERDALE — “Wow, this is it,” Arielle DiSciascio, a 19-year-old Miramar dancer, thought before walking into the audition for “So You Think You Can Dance” in New York City last December. “This is the moment. You have to give it your all.”
Her solo will appear on tonight’s episode of the dance competition, which will air at 8 p.m. on FOX.
“When I’m dancing, I feel the music in my body,” DiSciascio said. “The music behind the vocals tells my body how to move. I try to showcase that this is me. This is who I am. This is my passion.”
DiSciascio said she has been dancing since age 3 and has trained in ballroom, hip-hop, ballet, jazz and contemporary. After graduating from Somerset Academy Arts Conservatory in Pembroke Pines and Dance Attack Dance Studio in Miami a year ago, she felt it was time to look beyond the routine after-school studio hours and weekend competitions.
She has spent the last year making a name for herself. In New York, she worked with Broadway choreographer Warren Carly leon a musical theater project. She also performed in Univision’s singing competition, “La Banda,” last fall and in two Spanish-language awards shows, Premio
Lo Nuestro in February and Premios Juventud on Thursday.
“I was in seven numbers [at Premios Juventud], and I danced with [Latin singers] Marc Anthony, Maluma, Chyno, Gente de Zona … and I did a solo with Nacho,” she said. “Sometimes I can’t believe that I’m actually living the life that I’m living. I’m so grateful for opportunities like this because it all comes from the training that my studio coaches gave me from Dance Attack. It’s all just falling into place.”
When the “So You Think You Can Dance” NYC auditions came around last year, she felt ready.
“It was such a surreal moment,” DiSciascio said. “I couldn’t believe that I got to fly out and perform in front of the judges. After I performedmy solo, I was just so grateful to be there and have the opportunity to showcase what I love. I felt like I was dreaming for a second.”
Tonight, viewers can watch DiSciascio dance to “I Found a Boy” by Adele. Her mother accompanied her to the audition. Without her family, DiSciascio said, she wouldn’t have accomplished any of it.
“They’re my biggest supporters. Everything in dance wouldn’t have been possible without them. Especiallymy mom. She’s been so supportive ofme sinceDay1. They’ve believed inmeand helpedmeget to where I am today.
“I’m going with the flow … my plan is actually to move to New York and pursue my dream and see how that goes in the fall.”
DiSciascio is the second South Florida dancer to appear on the show this season. Pembroke Pines dancer Koine Iwasaki auditioned in New York City in December, too, and appeared on the showon June 26.
After the open auditions conclude, contestants move on to Academy Week for callbacks. Dancers who make it to the finalist stage will compete to try to make it until the finale in September. Thewinner gets$250,000.
The episode will air at 8 tonight on Fox.