Hi there! My name is Emeli Ragland and I am one of the senior/alumni dancers at ODPAS Roots! It has been such a blessing to be apart of the ODPAS family for over 7 years, and I am so excited to see what the future has in store.

 

After graduating high school last year, I was given the wonderful opportunity to expand my artistic abilities and start teaching more. This has really helped me find myself more as a dancer, and not only has it brought me closer to my teammates, but it has pushed me to be a better person and dancer. 

For as long as I can remember, I have always been very shy, until I started dancing at ODPAS. Everyone that I have met over the years has helped shape who I am today. Our training hasn’t only been dance. ODPAS has educated me on how to present myself in auditions or job interviews or speaking in front of crowds of people. My dance family has given me the strength and courage to do the things I’m afraid of and to be myself and I will be forever grateful for that. I would not be the person I am today without ODPAS. 

I’m sort of living my future right now (with still a LONG way to go!). I am currently attending BRCC with the goal of transferring to RMH for training to be a Radiology Technician! I would love to go back to school in the future to further my education to be either a Nuclear Medicine Technologist, MRI or CT Technician. I have always been so fascinated with the human anatomy and dance has made my love for it grow bigger and bigger. 

Any donations to our program could go such a long way and it would mean the world to all of us. With getting hit hard by COVID, we have all fought long and hard to stay dancing. We finally found our new home for us to share our passion with you all, and your donations help us to continue to do so. This amazing program is home to so many young and beautiful minds that are so full of talent. Your donation can help us afford future opportunities that will help us grow as artists and shape who we want to be in the future.