PA Distance is always honored to educate talented students across the Commonwealth. From creative inventors and entrepreneurs to blacksmiths, athletes and dancers PA Distance makes sure our students receive quality education and support while they pursue their dreams. One of these outstanding students is 7th-grader and World Junior Dance Champion Katya Storchevaya.
When she’s not attending live class, completing asynchronous assignments, or interacting with her teachers and peers, she is traveling the world for dance competitions. With the flexibility PA Distance offers, Katya can excel within the virtual classroom without compromising her successful dance career.
“My favorite part about dancing is that I like the fact that you can dress up and have beautiful makeup,” Katya explained. “I also love that I can express myself through music.”
Katya practices and competes in ballroom dance which consists of two different styles: Standard and Latin. But within each style, there are five different dances competitors must perform. Since she started learning to dance at 4-years-old and began her professional career in 2018, she has already danced in countless competitions, alongside her dance partner Leo, and won several impressive titles both nationally and abroad (many just in this past year!).
In September 2021, the duo won two National Junior 1 Championship titles in Ballroom and Latin - winning all 10 dances against the strongest junior dance couples in the country - in the 2021 United States National Amateur Dancesport Championships in Orlando, Florida. And, in November 2021, she also competed in the World Dance Council Amateur League (WDCAL) World Junior Final in Amsterdam where she and Leo won 1st place in Latin and 3rd place for the Ballroom/Standard for the Waltz.
Below is her Ballroom Dance routine from the most recent World Junior Final: https://hubs.ly/Q010JG0b0
Most recently, Katya and Leo competed in the 2022 United States National Amateur Dancesport Championships at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah in March. After hard work and several competitive rounds of dances, they officially became Junior 1 Ballroom and Latin Champions for the second year in a row.
“Leo is a big part of this dance relationship,” her mother, Ms. Kozlova explained. “This success wouldn't be possible without him."
“It’s cool because I never traveled as much as I do now for my dancing,” Katya said. “I’ve never won anything this big.”
Katya has moved dance studios a few times and eventually found one that works best for her called Paragon Ballroom Studio. However, her studio is an hour and a half drive away so some of her school work is done on the road. With PA Distance, Katya doesn’t have to worry about being able to attend dance practice 6 days a week.
“We found PA Distance and it has been working out really well,” Ms. Kozlova said.
“I can do work anywhere I need to,” Katya explained. “It is really easy to turn on my computer to join my classes and do my homework. I always schedule my dance lessons after my classes so I don't miss anything.”
Before she leaves for a big competition, Katya lets her school counselor and her teachers know ahead of time.
“Katya is very busy with dance and always lets me know when she will be traveling for competitions so we can make a plan for her school work,” Katya’s school counselor, Ms. Harvey explained. “She balances dance and academics wonderfully as she has made the honor roll for all three quarters this year!”
“That’s the reason we joined PA Distance,” Ms. Kozlova said. “The school has been flexible with her travel schedule and I like that her classes are spread out.”
“I have specific dates and times that things are scheduled to keep me accountable,” Katya described. “Everyone is very nice and they all understand my dance schedule.”
Her mother admits that even though a virtual learning option is the best for Katya and her dance career, PA Distance stood out from the online educational other options for a variety of reasons.
“Starting from the customer service, PA Distance was great.” Ms. Kozlova said. “So far it’s going well. They send things in the mail. The classes are great. The little things they do for her are really important. And, the teachers are so nice.”
“My favorite part about PA Distance is that I can learn from my home and I’m always comfortable,” Katya explained. “And the teachers and very nice and helpful.”
“I think PA Distance works well for kids that do sports or dance, like me, and for those that don’t,” Katya added. “It can work well for a variety of people and reasons.”
As a 7th-grader, Katya isn’t sure what she wants to do in her future or whether she wants to continue dancing professionally as an adult. One thing that she does know, however, is that she wants to attend a college or a university.
“I’m not sure if I will continue dancing when I am older. When it comes to my future in high school and then college, I want to focus on school more,” Katya explained. “Dance has given me a lot of opportunities but school is way more important.”
_________
About PA Distance Learning Charter School
Since 2004, PA Distance has been providing a welcoming virtual learning environment for students in grades K-12 across Pennsylvania. Students at PA Distance engage in a blended environment that combines “synchronous” and “asynchronous” learning. PA Distance’s mission is to blend proven classroom teaching techniques with educational technologies to promote academic growth for all students.