Catholic Central student dances a life

For Eileen McDonnell, dance has long been part of life. Even before she began learning ballet 11 years ago, she was surrounded by others who were involved.

"I had some friends who were three or four years older than me who danced and they told me about it and really encouraged me to try it," she explained.

Now Eileen, a senior at Catholic Central High School in Troy, has not only outlasted those friends, but she has outperformed them as well. A ballet dancer with the Albany Berkshire Ballet since 1998, she spent her 2008 summer in Boston dancing for the prestigious Boston Ballet's Summer Dance Program.

"I just decided to try out," Eileen said, "especially since I love Boston."

There, she learned the competitive nature of ballet, as she and 500 other young men and women underwent intensive summer training. However, the intensive training Eileen learned there is only the beginning for her, as she has bigger plans.

Twin goals
"I'm hoping to get into Mercyhurst College [in Erie, Penn.] and double-major in dance and pre-med," she said.

A National Honor Society member, co-president of the senior class, the recipient of the Paul Baker Scholarship for outstanding academic record and contribution to the school, and lead actress in Catholic Central's production of "Cinderella," Eileen appears driven to succeed.

Alongside dance, there's another passion: "I've always wanted to be a doctor," she said.
When asked if she had to pick one or the other career, she declined. "Oh wow, I could not choose. I love them both so much!"

Eileen said both passions can correlate with each other.

"I really believe my dancing background will help me with being a doctor," she said. "Dancers understand their bodies and know how to use them in terms of flexibility and things like that. I believe that kind of knowledge goes a long way."

En pointe
Her most memorable moment in dancing came in 2002, when she was awarded the role of Clara in the Albany Berkshire Ballet's presentation of "The Nutcracker."

"That was really cool," she said with a big smile.

Eileen has been active within the Church as well. At Our Lady of Victory parish in Troy, she serves as a lector, cantor, Eucharistic minister and retreat leader. She said she tries to ensure that her career aspirations do not compromise her religious practice.

Eileen said that as she prepares for life after high school, she can see that dance has shaped her life and her faith.

"I've learned how far to push yourself," she said. "To realize how far is too far and when you should slow down and take a break with everything. It's also taught me how to be disciplined, how to get everything done."

Of what she has in front of her, Eileen simply giggled and said, "It's exciting."

(11/13/08)