By Rachel Reinke
Staff Writer ’06
Lassiter’s sophmore ballerina extraordinare
Most people at Lassiter who know of sophomore Danielle Berke would never guess that she has a fondness for the good old days of listening to Raffi, that she has been known to play in the creek behind her house with her dog, Max, or that she has a mouth like a sailor. To many, she is the quiet, hardworking scholar who is never less than humble about her incessantly excellent grades. Well, if you have heard anything less than that about Danielle, then you clearly have much to learn about this fabulous girl.
The fact that Danielle is an outstanding ballet dancer may not come as a surprise to those who have seen her tiny 5’3″ figure. A dancer of thirteen years, she began at the Academy of Ballet Arts, simply so mom could picture her only daughter in a tutu. Ballet clicked for Danielle, and it soon became her passion. After attending a summer dance program in Milledgeville, she realized that, by moving on to become part of the prestigious Atlanta Ballet, she could receive better training in the hobby that was quickly becoming a huge part of her life. Atlanta Ballet soon became a second home to Danielle where she has devoted twenty-plus hours a week for four years in classes and rehearsals in addition to seasonal productions at the Fox Theater and four- and five-week programs in the summer.
Having this much devotion would seem to leave no room for grades or concern for school at all. However, Danielle is more than concerned about school: she makes her honors and A.P. classes her top priority. She’s kept up the juggling act for as long as she has been dancing, through both middle and high school, and it’s now more of a normal fixation than something incredibly complicated. “It’s gotten progressively difficult, but I’ve had a lot of practice,” Danielle says in regard to keeping up with her marvelous performances at school and at dance.
She learns from everything in her life, not only through friends, dance, and school, but also through her family, especially her twin brother, Michael. “Being a twin is both a blessing and a curse. I’ve always had someone to experience things with; even in preschool, Michael and I were always together. I’ve always had someone to relate to; we share experiences. He’s always a part of everything I do.” A constant companion has had no effect on Danielle’s uniqueness, and even though she and her brother spend lots of time together, the inexpressible closeness of their relationship still baffles many of those who come in contact with them. Rather than loathe each other, Danielle and Michael remain each other’s closest friends, biggest fans, and a have the kind of sibling relationship most parents only dream of for their children.
While dance has given her an expert lesson in becoming disciplined in every aspect of her life, she doesn’t let her passion or schoolwork get in the way of what she loves most-having fun. “If I could only do one thing for the rest of my life it would be to laugh,” Danielle says with a signature cackle. She knows not to take life too seriously, and this philosophy shines through in her individuality, spontaneity, and ability to cheer anyone, no matter how angry at the world they may be. As far as friends go, Danielle says, “I like to surround myself with people who can see the positive in life so I’m not bogged down by the negativity.” To many of her friends, these words describe Danielle perfectly.