Mary Marinello Dances Way Into Huntington’s Heart

Senior Mary Marinello has danced her way into Huntington High School’s heart. The good natured teenager is considering several top-tier colleges while continuing to excel in ballet.

“Nothing has impacted and enriched my life quite the way ballet has,” Ms. Marinello said. “Being a classical ballet dancer for 13 years has taught me important values and lessons that are unique to the art form. Because my mother and my sister both pursued careers in dance, I was always bound to follow in their footsteps. Both my mother and sister have consistently been admirable role models who I can look up to and emulate and the art form of classical ballet shaped them, as it has me.”

The Long Island Arts Alliance has named Ms. Marinello a Scholar Artist. She is one of 20 Award of Distinction recipients in Nassau and Suffolk. The teenager was recognized in the dance category.

“Ballet has given me an appreciation for the various facets of artistry,” Ms. Marinello said. “To begin, dancing has allowed me to explore the ingenuity of movement. Being able to express myself through upper body gestures and technical leg maneuvers has enabled me to convey what words cannot express. Furthermore, ballet has bestowed on me a true appreciation and respect for musicians. Without these hardworking, dedicated performers, ballerinas would not have the most pivotal contribution to dance: music. With this music-slow, fast, exciting, or relaxing-dancers are able to tell a story through sound and impact their audience emotionally.”

Ms. Marinello is an excellent student, having aced many of Huntington High School’s most challenging courses. She has surrounded herself with a great group of loyal and loving friends.

“Ballet has granted me the ability to discover attributes about myself that may have remained hidden if not for this art form,” Ms. Marinello said. “Discipline, determination and grace are all enriching qualities that I have acquired while studying ballet. Having technique class every day and pushing to look my best, while also maintaining a state of elegance, has been a reoccurring obstacle that I am willing to face. Finding the perfect balance of poise in my upper body and energy in my legs creates the hypnotizing illusion of a powerful dancer. This is exactly the type of dancer I work toward becoming and the skill I aspire to achieve. These qualities of perseverance and optimism are both powerful emotions that I have obtained through ballet.”

Ms. Marinello said she’s also discovered a sense of creativity and leadership through ballet.

“I have had various opportunities to work with my peers and choreograph original performance pieces for them,” she said. “This has opened my mind to a new sense of innovation and allowed me to have a different outlook on the world of dance. Reversing the roles and becoming the choreographer has enabled me to bring an artistic vision to life through your fellow dancers. This feeling of creative freedom and authority has enhanced my character because I can apply these characteristics to my everyday life as a student, daughter and friend.”

Ms. Marinello’s day is organized around her priorities, but she always leaves time for her friends and for enjoyment, which includes ballet.

“Without ballet, I would lose a crucial part of myself and a significant influence on my persona,” Ms. Marinello said. “The lessons ballet has taught me are innumerable: the appreciation for fellow arts members, the idea that commitment and diligence will assist in achieving your goals, and that there are ways to reveal your thoughts or emotions without speaking. My passion for dance is unmatched compared to every other aspect of my life, and the supplemental qualities I have acquired from being a ballet dancer apply to my daily challenges. Conscientiousness is illustrated through my academic career, appreciation is proven through my engagement in the community, and grace is demonstrated in my actions towards my friends and family. The arts, specifically ballet, has made me the person I am today and provided me with positive, valuable experiences and qualities that I will forever cherish.”