Impact of Covid On Dance Teen
Passionate Montclair High Teen and Her Love for the Performing Arts
Feeling the slow flow of music in her ears and dancing smoothly to the beat was a daily reminder of how big music was to Amelia Brubaker.
Brubaker, now an incoming junior at Montclair High School, grew up as a musical girl. Ballet, dance and music were such big parts of her life. Performing to her highest standards was something she prioritized. Not only did she have high standards for herself, her parents also put immense pressure on her.
“What I liked about the [dance] classes was how intricate and detailed it was. Once you get that one detail down it’s the best feeling in the world,” she says.
Brubaker has always wanted to make her parents proud, especially her mother, who was a performer for 17 years. She was always a great source of inspiration to Brubaker and was there to help her right her wrongs.
Not only was Brubaker’s mother there to support her, but so was her father who is a musician. They have done so much together and she appreciates her parents.
“We always make covers and play the acoustic guitar, those 70’s rock types of music,” she said.
Brubaker has a fraternal twin named Anna. Though she may not have been quite as involved with music as Amelia, she still had supported her passion for music and dance.
She has been such a big part of who I am and will continue to be in the future,” she says.
Through the years she met some amazing people and created incredible memories. All was going well until Covid-19. During the pandemic, Brubaker quit dance and ballet. Her dance studio shut down and all communication between all of her dance friends vanished.
To add on, the pandemic helped Brubaker realize that she was no longer having fun anymore. For years she had a vast amount of pressure on her back from not only her parents but also herself. Now Brubaker is looking forward to her future and has been focusing on herself.
Listening to music on her own or even with her father is something that she still incorporates into her everyday life.
