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OREM — It seems to be every young performer's dream: to move to New York City, attending school while auditioning every free moment. To finally make a career out of an art they've been practicing their entire lives.
It doesn't happen for everyone, but Alexia Meyer is determined to make it where so many have struggled before. And thanks to her recent performance at the New York City Dance Alliance national competition, she's well on her way to making her dreams a reality.
Meyer, a 17-year-old senior at Mountain View High School in Orem, has won one of the dance world's most prestigious awards: she was named the NYCDA's 2012 National Outstanding Dancer.
"This is one of the bigger nationals that everyone wants to win and everyone works toward," Meyer said. "It was a great experience and something I've worked toward for a long time."
Fourteen years, to be exact. Meyer started dancing at The Dance Club in Orem at age three, and she said she hasn't looked back. It's more than a hobby; it's a lifelong passion.
More than 20 hours a week spent practicing. Seven years at nationals, hoping for the top spot. Hundreds of dancers to beat, some of whom are her best friends — sisters, even.
"Dance helps unite us and helps us challenge each other," Meyer said. "It's a great experience being with those you love. You can just see them in the future doing what you love. If you want to pursue a career, they're going to be the people you are going to work with, going to room with."
She has to put that aside when she competes, though, focusing only on the music.
"I usually don't like watching other dancers before I go on," she said. "I stay in my own zone and lock out everyone else, and then I perform."
It was a relief, after a demanding day, to perform her solo, a piece choreographed by Travis Wall of "So You Think You Can Dance" fame.
"We had rehearsal until 2 a.m., and then were up bright and early and in classes until late afternoon," Meyer said. "We took a break to eat, and then we rehearsed our group number and rushed back to our rooms to get ready for roll call."
And then, it was time to dance.
At that first note, everything else disappeared. The crowd, the judges. The feathers, zippers and makeup — all integral to the mood she was trying to create — ceased to exist, and adrenaline took over.
"When I'm in my first position, ready for the music to start, I tell myself, 'I can do this,'" Meyer said. "And when the first note comes on, you just tell yourself you're going to give it your all, and you're going to have fun doing it."
The top 15 dancers were announced and narrowed down to a top 10, and finally a top five. Meyer made each cut and performed her solo again. Finally, she was named the winner of the competition.
"I was so shocked; I was so happy, I cried," she said. "It was just a tender moment. All my dance friends came on stage and gave me a hug, and we just cried together."
She said there is always a bit of disappointment to see a friend take nationals over yourself, but that, overall, the feelings are overwhelmingly positive.
"It's the best feeling when you know your friends are happy for you, and you can be happy for them," she said. "It helps avoid drama: we dance together. We're close. We would call ourselves sisters."
Sisters who celebrated that night as one of their own got the chance to live out her dream. Meyer won $1,000 and the opportunity to tour with the NYCDA throughout the next year. As a part of a related competition, she also won $98,000 in scholarships to Marymount Manhattan and Point Park University, as well as $10,000 from the NYCDA to a school of her choosing.
"I would most definitely like to make a career out of dancing," she said. "I would really like to move to New York and just kind of see what happens."
