Looking back on the beginning of my senior year of high school I had never been so indescribably lost and open-ended. I decided not to do the sport that had consumed my life for 10 years, I had no pageant “title”, and on a whim decided to move away from my job. You’re probably asking yourself what in the world was I thinking, and the answer is one simple word, passion. I am a person who is completely driven upon passion and I take risks when it comes to following my heart, so when my hearts not in the right place I take a step back and just trust the process.

There was one thing that I was undecided on: dance. I was not very passionate about dance anymore, but I decided to give it a second chance and attended a master class at Xtreme Force Dance Company. I had always admired them and spent hours watching their dances, but also constantly reminded myself that there was no way I was good enough to go there. As I walked into the studio chills hit me. Sitting in front of me was Makenna Okamoto, a dance legend in my mind and as I sat by her watching her sister Maleah do her solo my heart was beating out of my chest. In the studio next to us was a group of girls running around in their new XFDC “onesies” as Shauna Noland from So You Think You Can Dance patiently tried to choreograph using a treadmill and a mini trampoline. My mom looked at me and said, “Malorie, I honestly feel like you fit in here”. From that moment on I knew this was my new home. Then the reality sunk in as it was fall and auditions for their team were in June. I said I didn’t need to be on a team, I just needed to be in classes and finding my passion again.

A week later I got a text from Briana Moncada who I knew as “Stone Cold” from her famous solo that had gone viral, and her one short text changed my life so much more than I could have ever guessed. She told me I could join their competition team if I could get there within the next hour. The studio was over the hill and I had never driven on the freeway, but I was not going to let this opportunity pass. I hopped in the car and drove myself to Xtreme Force in the rain and when I got there I was welcomed in with open arms. I drove home crying of happiness, and let’s just say nothing has changed since.

Xtreme Force Dance Company is truly like no other studio. The parents welcome you in with open hearts and the students clapped and cheered for me even when I slammed on my face on my first day of acro. My mom and I often refer to the studio as “Pleasantville” because everyone was so unbelievably kind. We were doing everything possible to try to make the payments work and keep me there. We couldn’t believe how inexpensive it was compared to studios around the area. With the help of my new incredible job and the support of Miss Ashley from Xtreme I officially became a member of Xtreme Force Dance Company.

I still don’t understand how I got so lucky, but “trusting the process” and giving it up to God landed me a spot on one of the most famous dance studios in California. I took in and truly embraced every moment that I got to “Xperience The Force” and it absolutely paid off. I have grown more in this last year than I would have grown in 15 years at any other studio. I went from wanting to cry when someone would say improv to knowing I could confidently carry myself in an improv audition due to Shauna Noland. I took classes with famous choreographers in styles I had never tried such as Ballroom with Lacey Schwimmer. I learned that dancing is so much more than technique and turns, it’s about trying new things, trusting yourself, and being confident in who you are.

I may have not been a huge part of Xtreme Force Dance Company and I may not have left a huge dance impact, but Xtreme Force and everyone in it left the greatest impact on me. They made me feel like I had purpose in every class I came to. It didn’t matter if I was the worst one in the room, they treated me with constant kindness and love.

Thank you, Xtreme Force Dance Company, for your endless support. I love you all more than you’ll ever know. Thank you, Ashley Firestone, for taking a chance and believing in me. Shauna Noland you took the confidence I always pretended I had and made it real and for that I can never thank you enough. Briana Moncada thank you for your gracious support and smile. Lastly thank you to all the students and parents who made me feel just as important as all the girls who had been there for years and gave me the best senior year possible.

Love you all and will forever be your greatest supporter. My journey “Xperiencing The Force” may be over, but the impact it left on me will shine forever.

Love Always,

Malorie