Name: Melaina Geisel
Class: 2027
Sport: Penn Competition Dance Team
Instagram: melaina.geisel
Hashtag: #workhard
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned through The Penn Competition Dance Team?: Being on the Competition Dance Team has taught me how to support my teammates and work together as a team to accomplish our goals. It’s also taught me self confidence and believing in myself.
What are your pre-comp rituals?: Pre-Comp rituals are having snacks on the bus prior to the competition and writing letters to our “dance Sister” for the season.
Who is a dancer (at any level) you look up to, and why?: Ava Wagner is my favorite dancer. She was a standout member of the University of Minnesota dance team. She was MVP of her dance team. She was also on World of Dance. She is a very powerful dancer. She is strong, flexible, an amazing turner, and can execute many high level skills. She can dance all genres and make it look effortless. She can also make you feel so much emotion.
What is a challenge you’ve faced and how did you overcome it?: Some challenges I have faced are self confidence and comparison to others. In dance, you are constantly being judged. It’s all subjective and you have only so much control on the outcome. It can be so hard dancing among your teammates and comparing yourself to others. Especially if they place and you don’t. I have to pray about it a lot and dig deep. You have to just do your best and be happy with how you performed.
What are your strengths as a dancer?: My strengths are my turning, jumps, and showing emotion when I dance. Dance is telling a story and I love that.
What do you love most about representing Penn High School?: I love being a part of a strong dance team. We represent Penn well with our talents and the way we love each other. It’s fun to perform at the basketball games and being a part of that too.
How do you handle stress and pressure?: I handle pressure and stress by praying about it and talking it through with my mom and some of my close teammates.
How do you keep your teammates feeling positive and motivated when you guys are struggling?: When my teammates are struggling I cheer louder. I tell them how amazing they are and encourage them.
How do you balance Athletics with Academics?: I try really hard to use my time wisely at school so that I don’t have a lot of homework in the evenings. Dance takes up a lot of time.
How do you stay motivated during the off-season?: I stay motivated by continuing to dance in the off season. I joined an All star dance team this past summer and I condition and train with other studios during the off season. This summer I plan on doing college clinics.
