Dancing Queen

loating across the stage with unparalleled grace, senior Yasmine Kaya bows and a crescendo of clapping begins. She is almost always practicing, performing or teaching dance in one of the many clubs that she is involved with on campus. As a co-captain of Dance Company, co-head of two ESSO dance clubs, a member of Poms, an actress in mainstage productions and a director and choreographer for Dramat, Kaya is very actively involved with the Academy’s theater and dance programs. Kaya has always been interested in art and has been dancing and acting since a young age.

"I started dancing when I was five years old, like most girls, because my mom made me," Kaya said. Originally she hated it due to the structured nature of ballet, the style of dance she started with. Ultimately she stuck with it because she loved to perform. She explained that performances allow her to "show a piece of [herself] to the audience."

When Kaya was seven years old, she began acting, which she initially found to be more appealing. However, she eventually came around to dance, which is now a major part of her life at Exeter. Before Exeter, Kaya had known Alison Duke, one of the dance instructors at the Academy, which was one of the main reasons that she applied.

One of the many roles Kaya plays on campus is co-captain of Dance Company. She describes her work in the club as "working with students and dance teachers and being a bridge between those two." Together, she and the other captains run the warm-up for the dancers and attend weekly production meetings with the dance staff. Kaya spent the fall term in France, where she was trained in French ballet. She says that every Exeter student should go abroad, because "you won’t regret it--it’s a lot of fun."

Senior Hannah Fuller, Kaya’s former co-captain for Dance Co., praised Kaya for being "a really strong leader with great ideas." She said that Kaya was a naturally good listener, which "makes her even more effective because she gets to know everyone."

Senior Kailey McLaughlin, the current co-captain of Dance Co, said that Kaya "understands the balance of solo and group work that is necessary for any dance performance." She continued, "She’s always willing to answer anyone's questions, but also graciously accepts corrections."

Kaya is also a co-head of ESSO’s HFCC Dance Club, a student-led club which teaches dance to kindergarten children at the Harrison Ford Children’s Center. She is also the co-head of another ESSO club, Youth Dance Ensemble, which is free and open to any kids in the area who want to come. The club meets in the squash courts of the Love Gym every Friday night. Kaya says that these clubs are "usually the highlight of [her] week."

McLaughlin, another co-head of Youth Dance Ensemble, says that as a co-head, Kaya’s "patience and kindness with the kids is admirable, and they absolutely adore ‘Miss Yasmine.’" Senior Erin McSally, a co-head of HFCC, said that Kaya "always makes her self super available and approachable. I can always bounce ideas off her and know I'll have an honest answer."

McSally added that Kaya "is a leader in the sense that she leads by example. She's always on time, focused, positive, and inclusive. This sets a great example for not only the younger girls but for the fellow seniors as well."

Kaya is also a member of Poms, Exeter’s cheerleading squad. "I didn’t originally want to do it, because I didn’t want to be a cheerleader," she said. "But I was told it’s just dancing with pom-poms, and I stick to that."

Kaya’s friends and fellow dancers have praised her for her talent and dedication to her art. Fuller commended Kaya for being "incredibly dedicated as a dancer" as well as how she regularly "works above and beyond until she perfects something." Fuller’s praise didn’t stop there. "She's a natural performer, you can’t take your eyes off of her." McSally agreed: "I've danced with Yasmine for four years now, both in Poms and in Dance Co. In Poms, she is always on time, ready to work, remains focused for the full two hours, and always knows when to ask clarifying questions that can help the group as a whole."

McLaughlin added that, "When performing, I think Yasmine is physically incapable of not smiling. Whether it's for dance company or Poms, her presence brightens the stage."

In addition to dance, Kaya has been consistently involved in Exeter’s theatre program. She has been in three of Exeter’s mainstage plays. Generally, she spends two terms performing with Dance Co. and spends her third term preparing for the mainstage performance.

Kaya also directed and choreographed a musical for Dramat with two of her friends, seniors Molly Ganley and Gaby Meckley. She plans on directing another Dramat show in the spring with Ganley, called Spelling Bee. Kaya said that Ganley will "focus more on the music, I’ll do more of the choreographing, and we’ll both work on staging and acting, which will be a lot of fun."

Beyond the arts, Kaya’s friends have had nothing but praise for her character and good humor. McLaughlin says that she has been friends with Kaya since moving to New Hampshire in the eighth grade. Her friendliness "made me feel welcomed right away, and I don't know if she knows how grateful I am for that. Yasmine shines on and off the stage, but, despite her talent, she remains one of the most humble and grounded people I know."

Fuller agreed, "Yasmine is probably the sweetest person you'll ever meet. She's incredibly thoughtful, but also full of spunk so there's never a dull moment with Yasmine."

McSally added that Kaya "is a great listener, thoughtful person, and beautiful and creative artist."