Senior Brooke Spencer has been dancing her whole life. For her, making the Purdue dance team was a result of all the years of hard work, dedication, discipline, and countless hours spent training. From taking her first ballet class at three years old to spending late nights practicing on her own, her journey to Purdue has been anything but easy.
Spencer first started dancing when she was three years old at Starland, now known as Roots. Growing up around dance, cheer, gymnastics, and other activities, her main focus eventually became competitive dance. After moving from Deerfield to Lake Forest, she danced at Jenny’s before trying out for and making the Lake Forest Dance Team as an incoming freshman. While dance had always been an important part of her life, it wasn’t until fifth grade where she realized how serious it had become.
“In fifth grade, I did the talent show by myself and choreographed my own dance,” Spencer said. “That was the moment I realized how much I loved performing and competing.”
Throughout high school, she balanced LFDT while continuing to improve her technique outside of school. Although dancing in college was not always a definite plan, it was always something she thought about. Her experiences with the dance team and attending college dance clinics helped solidify her goal.
“I’ve seen Brooke’s hard work both in and out of the studio, and she’s truly someone I look up to in every way,” teammate Caroline Helfrich said.
During her junior year, she attended multiple college dance clinics and realized she wanted to continue dancing at the collegiate level. From there, she fully committed herself to the process by taking technique classes year-round, competing again, choreographing a senior solo, attending every clinic possible, and clearing her schedule to prioritize dance.
“The biggest thing was fully committing myself to the process and knowing I had to be 100% invested,” Spencer said.
Although she had support from her teachers, friends, and family throughout the process, she admitted it was mentally challenging at times. Comparison and self-doubt became constant struggles, especially because her path toward a college dance team felt different from many people around her.
“The hardest part was staying positive,” Spencer said. “I definitely had moments where I doubted myself, but I reminded myself that I had already come this far and needed to finish what I started.”
“Brooke has always had a ton of grit. She works hard with passion and perseverance. I am so proud of her achievement and excited to see her thrive on the Purdue Dance Team,” her mom said.
The waiting process consumed her thoughts daily. After months of preparation and anticipation, she found out she made the Purdue dance team during a Zoom call.
“When I found out, I was so ecstatic because it was the moment I had been waiting for and working for for months,” Spencer said.
For her, making the Purdue dance team represents much more than earning a spot on a roster. Spencer emphasized how it validates the sacrifices, discipline, and risks she took throughout high school to pursue her goals.
Next year, Spencer is excited to return to a team environment and also to continue to push herself as both a teammate and a dancer.
“I want to keep improving technically, work hard with the people around me, and fully enjoy the experience,” Spencer said.
