Annabella Papson

While reflecting on my time as President for Dance Theatre there is nothing else I can do but smile. If you would have told me my freshman year that I was going to hold this position one day I would have never beileved you. I was never the type of person who had a lot of confidence, especially when it came to leadership roles. Fortunately, I was surrounded by current and past Dance Theatre members that helped guide me to the decision of running for the position and for that I am forever grateful. 

 I am filled with a sense of accomplishment and gratitude. This role has been a journey full of challenges, triumphs, and invaluable lessons. It definitely was not always easy, but the support I felt from each member of the company kept me and the Executive Board going. Despite the difficulties, overcoming these challenges helped me develop resilience and problem-solving skills that I will carry forward into my future endeavors. 

During my time as President, I am particularly proud of our Fall 24 and Spring 25 concerts. It is unimaginable how much work goes into planning these events. Being behind every decision and every step that led us up to our concerts was truly special and I have so much respect for how hard the company and Lana Kay work to prepare for our performances. Our concerts are always a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire company and demonstrates our ability to set and achieve our organizations goals together. The dedication and collaboration from our members was crucial to our successes and made my role both enjoyable and fulfilling. 

Serving as President has been an opportunity for an immense amount of personal growth. As I mentioned before, I struggled with having confidence in my abilities as a leader,  but I was lucky enough to be supported by some of the most amazing people in my life. Knowing that the company put their trust in me to run the company is an unexplainable feeling. Because of this I can confidently say that I have grown into a better person than I was before because of this role. I owe all of this to the members of the company, alumni, and of course Lana Kay, for always being there and believing in me. 

As I step down from my role, I am optimistic about the future of Dance Theatre. The foundation we have built together will help support the organziations continued growth and success. I am so excited to see how new leadership will build on our achievements and take the organization to new heights. 

In conclusion, my time as President of Dance Theatre has been a remarkable chapter in my life. I am so thankful for the opportunity to serve and be surrounded by such amazing people while doing so. Thank you to everyone who supported me and helped me find the confidence I never knew I had.