Raising the barre

IOWA CITY - Most high school students will spend this Labor Day weekend sleeping late, putting off homework and hanging out with friends.

Miriam Miller will change her life.

Miller, 15, flies to New York City Sunday, where she will enroll in the School of American Ballet, joining an elite group of students invited to study at the prestigious school.

Established in 1934, the School of American Ballet is considered the pre-eminent ballet academy in the United States. Many of the school's dancers have gone on to join New York City Ballet and dozens of companies worldwide.

This isn't the first time Miller, an Iowa City West High School sophomore, has been asked to attend the school's year-round program. The invitation was extended last summer as well.

But this time, her parents said yes.

“It's not something I would have expected five years ago,” Miller says.

“I don't think five years ago we would have thought of letting her leave,” Miriam's father, Francis Miller, adds. “We have to remember that this is an opportunity for her to pursue her goals. For her to get better, she needs to be challenged by other dancers who are as good as, or better, than her.”

Miriam iller's dancing career started when she was four.

“I grew up in rural Iowa and didn't really have an opportunity to take dance,” Rachel Miller, Miriam's mom, says. “I wanted her to have the opportunity and it became more than we thought.”

Miller first took classes at the Youth Ballet and School of Dance at the University of Iowa, studying with Sarah Barragan. When Barragan started her own studio - City Ballet of Iowa - Miller followed her.

“When I met her, I knew she had the physical capabilities to go far, but the rest is up to her,” Barragan says.

Dancing, Barragan says, is commitment. It's pushing yourself harder to go further. Not every dancer has that dedication. Miller does.

“She just wants it more and more,” Barragan says. “The more she does it, the more she wants it. That's what you have to do.”

Barragan, a former School of American Ballet student, was the one to bring the school to the Miller family's attention. Barragan encouraged Miriam to audition for the school's summer program, a five-week intensive course during which students attend dance classes six days a week.

Miller auditioned for the summer program three times and was accepted in the summer of 2011 and 2012. She was invited to return for the winter, year-round program at the close of both summer terms.

“Last year, it wasn't one of my goals,” Miller says. “I didn't know about it, so I wouldn't have been disappointed if I wasn't asked.”

This summer, though, she returned to New York City hoping there was a chance the offer would be extended again.

“It was always on my mind,” Miller says. “I wanted to make sure that I had improved and that they could see it.”

Miller returned from the school's summer program at the end of July. She received an invitation to the winter term on Aug. 13. The last few weeks have been a whir of activity as she prepares to move to New York City, while balancing dance classes at the UI and academic classes at West.

In New York, Miller will attend dance classes for 20 hours each week. She will continue her high school education at the Professional Children's School.

“I look forward to improving and seeing the difference there is in the training there compared to here,” Miller says.

Miller isn't guaranteed a spot at the School of American Ballet from year to year. Faculty assess student progress on an ongoing basis and make advancement recommendations at the end of each term.

“I just hope I improve as a dancer,” Miller says. “When I'm dancing, it's kind of like I'm separating from myself. That's all I have to focus on - the dance.”

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