On the outside, freshman Rangerette Arlin Busano looks like any other student. But once you get past her larger than life smile and radiant personality, you will find something much more. Busano grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii, and began dancing at the age of 5. “It was a birthday present for me from my mom,” Busano said. “She took me to a dance studio in our town and as I was watching how much fun the other girls in a dance class were having, I knew that’s what I wanted to do.” After that, Busano began taking hula and jazz classes. “All of the girls in my jazz class were close friends since they were all on the same competition team,” Busano said. “I told my mom that I wanted to fit in with them so she made me tryout for the team, which then I became a part of.” As a part of the team, students were required to take at least seven dance classes a week, including a tumbling class. “My mom wanted to push me to the best of my abilities and signed me up for unlimited classes, which included jazz, ballet, hip-hop, hula, Tahitian, tap, modern, lyrical and even musical theatre which included acting, dancing and singing.” After several years of dancing in her hometown, Busano moved to Texas. “I moved to Texas the summer before my freshman year of high school because of my step-dad’s job,” Busano said. She then began taking dance at Artistic Dance Concepts under the direction of Bonnie Hotman Phel. “After I joined drill team, I no longer did studio dance and just took dance classes at school,” Busano said. “My dance teacher was Laura Miller.” Busano was on the Robert E. Lee Southern Belle drill team in Tyler for two years and served as an officer her senior year. “My favorite thing about drill team in high school was getting to compete at the Westwood Dance Classic in Austin,” Busano said. “I love the atmosphere of being in Austin. There Dream come true Written by Ashton Johnson, Managing Editor/ THE FLARE Elizabeth Wisdom / THE FLARE are such amazing and talented drill teams there, and it was great getting to know them and compete along side them.” Busano also competed in the Gussie Nell Davis Dance Classic her junior and senior year of high school, where her solos won first place two years in a row. “I don’t necessarily care about winning at all. I just love to perform in front of a crowd,” Busano said. “It’s a great feel - ing to me, as well as getting to hear such great compliments from people afterwards and knowing that it made them feel great.” Throughout her dancing career, Busano has been award - ed many scholarships for her talent. “I love going to dance conventions to learn from the best choreographers in the dance industry today,” Busano said. She was recently awarded The Pulse Protege Scholarship at the dance convention The Pulse, which includes faculty members from the hit show “So You Think You Can Dance.” This scholarship allowed Busano to travel on tour and assist these choreographers for the following year of the tour. “My favorite person I’ve worked with was Mia Michaels. She is a very inspiring choreographer that portrays stories throughout her movements,” Busano said. “She is very unique and has an amazing personality, so being able to assist her on stage for dance conventions for a couple of years was just an honor.” Busano decided to take her dancing career to the next level by trying out for the Rangerettes. “This time last year is what definitely made me want to try out,” Busano said. “After seeing them with my drill team, I knew I wanted to be trained in perfection, excellence and tradition.” Throughout her first year as a Rangerette, Busano has been influenced by several new people, including Rangerette sister, Angela Lozzi. “She has taught me everything I needed to know and is always there for me no matter what,” Busano said. “I am so blessed and thankful for having her in my life. I couldn’t have had it any other way.” For Busano, performing a solo in Rangerette Revels is a dream come true. “I was nervous at first, but really excited once I found out that I was,” Busano said. “Revels was the whole reason I tried out to be a Rangerette in the first place and dancing a solo in it feels like a dream that’s actually coming to life.” With a solo and many other dances under her belt, Busano says her first year as a Rangerette was everything she could ever imagine. “It was filled with tons of great events, performances and surprises,” Busano said. “I just love everything about being a Rangerette.” Busano is majoring in dance and plans to attend Chap - man University in California to further her dancing career. “I hope to see myself in California, living my way through life with dance,” Busano said. “I just love to perform and tell stories through my dancing.”
Posted on: Sun, 13 Apr 2014 17:40:24 +0000
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