Raymond Gonzales

UCLA Summer School Dance Camp

During one of the rehearsals for Macbeth, Mr. Copley called me outside to have a word with me. He spoke about this scholarship Kevin Kane was offering four students in our theatre department for the UCLA Dance-Theatre Intensive, and Mr. Copley offered one of those scholarships to me. I was very surprised at first for a couple of reasons. One reason was that the term "dance" was in the title, and I was not a very great dancer. Also, I was much honored that Mr. Copley saw the potential in me to make a pursuance of performing theatrically. My family was happy about this offer. My mother was single and did not have a job at the time, so there would have been no way of attending this camp if it cost money. Once everything was agreed with and my mom gave me permission to attend, I had to complete the application.

When we all arrived at UCLA, all forty students introduced ourselves to each other and were given numbers for attendance purposes. Immediately, we began playing different games and activities to break the ice of being nervous from not knowing anyone. Once the games were over, everyone went and had dinner together. When we all sat down to eat, I went to eat with another person, Jackilyn, and we became great friends and still talk a lot today. At the end of the night, we had an orientation and were put into groups with our camp counselors. There was already a bonding moment once we all started to talk.

The second day of camp, every student had to complete a one-minute performance as an audition for our production of "Saying Our Peace." This audition could have been anything we wanted to do whether it was reciting a poem, dancing hip hop or ballet, singing, or just completing a stand up comedy skit. The next day, I was given my role as the Nerd that could not fit into any cliques. I think that the role was given because I was very good at performing in a "humorous" manner. With all of these activities, every student began to get comfortable with each other.

This camp changed me as a person in many ways. It taught me how to have courage. Going into the camp, I definitely did not know forty people aside from my friends going from Eagle Rock High School. I also was not highly confident with the fact that this was a part dance camp because I was not a very great dancer. However, once I got into camp, I instantly made friends with all of the students on one level or another and even the counselors and I bonded a lot at night. Dancing was tough because we did a lot of things from Capoeira to Yoga all the way to the scary Hip Hop. Going into my senior year, I have gained confidence. Learning lines is still strenuous but I definitely will not have that "I can't do this" attitude. Instead, it is all about just getting it done. Also, whenever we have a dance number to rehearse, I go right in and just take charge. I don't hide in the back anymore. I go to the first or second row and do the dance whether it looks great or not. I am doing it. That is what I learned life is basically about with this camp. It's not about quitting. It's not about putting yourself down It is all about going the task: dancing the dance, singing the song, writing the story, acting the part, living life to the fullest; and, knowing that whatever challenge comes my way or anyone else's way, they can get through it and they can do it.