Ellie's Quarantine Adventures

Hi! I’m Ellie Newton, a first-year BFA dance major. I have to say I did not expect my first year in college to end this way but I am trying to make the best of it. As we all (hopefully) have been doing, I am staying home as much as I can. I actually don’t know if I remember the last time I have been outside my house besides going on a walk or a random drive to listen to music. But, with this time, I have been able to give myself some relaxation and family time, which makes me very happy.

In general, I like to keep myself busy. This was hard at first to do without anywhere or anyone to see but I have been finding lots of ways to stay active and involved. I have started to bake a lot of cupcakes and cookies. My favorite being the cinnamon swirl cupcakes and brownies I baked recently. I also have started making daily Tik-Toks to hopefully make some of my friends laugh and smile. It honestly is the little things right now that bring a much-needed smile to my face.

Although I sometimes miss being constantly around people in a studio, I have been able to take classes that I otherwise wouldn’t be able to take in normal times. I have taken Rudy Abreu, Jackie Nowicki, Lukas McFarlane, and Cheryl Copeland’s classes over this time through either Instagram live or Zoom classes. These new experiences have made me excited about life. My hope is that you all find something that brings a smile to your faces during these times whether that be through dancing or something else enjoyable.