ELMIRA'S GARVIN ACCEPTED INTO PRESTIGIOUS DANCE PROGRAM AFTER H.S. (2024-06-04)

By Brian Fees
Southern Tier Sports Report
Anyone who has watched Emersyn Garvin dance around defenders on the flag football field for Elmira, probably wouldn’t be shocked to know that when she’s not on the gridiron she’s excelling on the stage as a dancer.

Garvin will continue her dance career beyond high school as she was admitted to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.

“It’s a program in New York City for theatrics, but I’m going for dance,” Garvin said. “I’m super excited, honestly, to just open up my journey in the dance world and learn more from creators and choreographers and just learn who I am as a person.”

Among the alumni of AMDA are Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who starred on the TV Show Modern Family, and legendary actor Paul Sorvino, along with many other stars, including people who have starred in plays on Broadway such as Hamilton and Rent.

“People who have been on broadway, people who have been on tour with like Beyonce and all the big artists,” Garvin said of who some of the people who go to the school are. “So, I’m super excited to get my journey started next year.”

For Garvin there were plenty of nerves as she went through the addition process, but after she found out she had been accepted.

“I went in and auditioned,” Garvin said. “I did two minute dances each, went in and did my dance, did another dance, talked a little bout myself and that was really it. I was super nervous, but I went in and gave it my all. I went back out feeling great and then about a week later I got the acceptance.”

Coming from a smaller area, there haven’t always been a lot of people for Garvin to look up to and aspire to be in dance. But, going to AMDA the Elmira senior knows she will have a lot of people she can look up to.

“Honestly with diversity, it’s a huge thing,” Garvin said. “Being a black girl in the community and going out for dance especially, the recognition and overall notice, we don’t really get it a lot. So, it’s just been amazing to step out of my comfort zone and just be noticed for my talent and what I can do.

“That is what I’m so excited and looking forward to the most is finding out who I am as a person and discovering other people for who they are and just going into it with an open mindset.”

And, Garvin hopes that her getting an opportunity like this shows other young dancers in the area that they can do the same type of things

“100% my only goal really is just to be an inspiration for the kids younger than me, show them they can do big things and being from a small town shouldn’t define them or hold them back from anything,” Garvin said. “Just go out for anything you want and get it and never stop until you have it.”

Garvin has some big goals in dance that she’d like to achieve.

“I really, really want to be a backup dancer and dance for all the big artists like Beyonce, Doja Cat, all those guys,” Garvin said. “They are so amazing, the big tours, they look so fun. That’s my main goal right now, just getting my name out there.”

Garvin knows things are going to change a lot in New York City.

“It’s going to be a lot different, more people, more everything,” Garvin said.

And, the Elmira senior is ready to get pushed to be here best.

“I am so excited,” she said. “The only thing I ever want to do in life is be pushed to where I can no longer be pushed to. I want to exceed my limit. I want to go far and when I see the people dance and when they are better than me, or just as good as me, I want to push more and that’s competitive right there. I look for the competitive factor. I look at it as a game and I want to beat them at their game.”

New York City is the first step for Garvin.

“I plan on going to New York City for two years and then the next two years I plan on going to Los Angeles,” Garvin said.

There will be some writing and common classes, but most of the time it will be dance for Garvin at AMDA and that’s something Garvin is excited about.

“I’m so excited to put all my energy and all my focus into something I truly love,” Garvin said.
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PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES

PHOTO GALLERY OF FROM DANCE COMPETITION EARLIER THIS YEAR AT EC:



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