High school junior Cassidy Kodl is making waves both on stage and in the Stanley-Boyd community as a talented dancer at Relevé Dance Studio and Stanley Area Dance Studio. Recently, Kodl was selected to perform in the prestigious production of Nutcracker! Magic of Christmas at the Pablo Center at the Confluence on December 5th, an incredible honor that showcases her dedication and skill in the world of dance. The 32nd annual tour of the holiday spectacular features ballerinas and danseurs from renowned opera houses around the world. Kodl shares that the audition process was fun, and she made quite a few new friends while she was there. She notes that her decision to audition was a last-minute choice that she was initially unsure of but is happy that she chose to step out of her comfort zone.
“When I was accepted and found out I would be a part of this amazing opportunity, I was extremely ecstatic! Because ballet is not my strong suit, I did not expect to do well,” she replies honestly.
Kodl was thrilled to be given not one but two roles in the production as a “Snow Maiden” or a “Dove”, as well as a “Slavic dancer”. She explains, “The first one is a full group dance, and the second one is a duet with my amazing partner, Lily! I am incredibly grateful to be given two roles and was extremely surprised when I found that out. Additionally, I am proud of myself! It feels like the hard work I put into dance is paying off.”
Kodl walks through her process for preparing for her roles. She explains that, in addition to her regularly scheduled classes in Stanley, she attends two practices every week on Sundays, while also dedicating time to stretching and practicing at home.
“I am preparing myself mentally by being sure I thoroughly know the choreography and have everything I will need for the practices and the show.” She adds, “I’m not feeling too much stress now, but I know I will closer to show time! Dancing in front of more than 1,200 people will be pretty nerve wracking!”
Outside the studio, Cassidy Kodl is a dedicated junior at Stanley-Boyd High School, balancing a demanding dance schedule with involvement in numerous extracurricular activities, including JAG, Student Council, National Honor Society, choir, band, CCD, and FCCLA. In addition, she works as a lifeguard during the summer and a waitress year-round, while also holding the title of Miss Thorp in the Miss Thorp Royalty Program. Despite her busy life, Kodl manages to excel in everything she takes on, demonstrating her commitment, discipline, and passion for both her craft and her education.
“Managing all of this does become a lot at times, however my trick to getting everything done is staying up late and getting up early. I don’t recommend it, but that is what works for me,” she remarks.
This school year, Kodl has focused on improving her time management skills, which has made a significant difference—especially during her challenging junior year.
“The trick really is time management and telling yourself it is okay to come back to a project later. Not everything needs to be done asap, so making to-do and priority lists are a must in my day-to-day routine.”
Kodl, who trains in fourteen classes per week, is a dedicated dancer with a strong connection to both Stanley Area Dance and Relevé Dance Studio, where she also competes on the studio’s competitive team. “Through the competitions, I have earned many awards, trophies, medals, and other things along those lines,” she says.
Kodl enjoys a variety of dance styles, but her favorites are jazz, lyrical, and contemporary. “Contemporary is my favorite because it is such a diverse category, which allows myself and other dancers to express ourselves and how we feel in such an abstract and artistic way,” she explains. “Jazz is another one of my favorite styles because of how creative and sassy I can be on stage. I really get to bring out the attitude! I have done Jazz as the style for my solo dances the past two years,” she adds. Lyrical also holds a special place for Kodl.
“I enjoy dancing lyrical because of how emotional this dance style is. Lyrical really lets all of your feelings flow and can be beautifully expressed through dance.”
While she has clear preferences, Kodl believes in the importance of training across a range of styles. “Dancing in styles out of your comfort zone opens many opportunities for you and helps expose you to the different sides of the dance world,” she remarks.
Kodl is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to perform with the Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet, describing it as a truly special experience. “I am very excited to be a part of this show. This opportunity is one of a kind and something that little me would have only dreamt to be a part of,” she says. “I am so grateful for everything that dance has given me and everyone that has taught me, encouraged me to keep going, helped me in my dance career, and for all of the friends I have made along the way.”
Once the Nutcracker production wraps up, Kodl plans to continue dancing full-time with Relevé Dance Company and Stanley Area Dance, while still embracing life as a typical high school student. “Hopefully, I will be able to do this again next year!” she comments.
Colette Wirtala, owner of Relevé Dance Studio, is proud of Cassidy Kodl’s growth as a dancer. “Cassidy has grown so much over the years, taking a variety of technique classes and many styles of dance including jazz, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop and musical theater,” Wirtala says. “She is a beautiful dancer and dynamic performer and has been a part of many top scoring group dances as part of our competitive dance team. Additionally, she has earned high awards in her solo and duet dances. She is an all-around great dancer, and a beautiful young lady.”
Kodl’s advice to younger dancers is simple: “Be yourself. Step out of your comfort zone, try new things and don’t be afraid while doing so, take risks, apply yourself in and outside of the studio, and just own it!” She emphasizes the diversity of dance and the opportunities it offers. “Dance can be an amazing outlet, and I encourage you to keep going in your dance career.”
Cassidy Kodl’s dedication, passion, and willingness to step outside her comfort zone serve as an inspiration to dancers of all ages. With a bright future ahead of her, there’s no doubt that this talented junior will continue to achieve great things, both as a dancer and as a role model in her community.
Tickets for the Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet at the Pablo Center at the Confluence on December 5th at 7 PM, can be purchased at the Pablocenter.org/events
