Stevie Combs ’25
Photo courtesy of Hailey Rosenberg ’25
If you asked kids at EA, ‘Who’s the best dancer you know?’ chances are, Hailey Rosenberg ’25 would be at the top of their list. With over a decade of training in styles ranging from jazz to hip-hop to contemporary, Rosenberg has earned her reputation as a standout performer.
Her journey began at the young age of four at The Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia. Since then, dance has become an integral part of her life. Currently, she continues to refine her craft at On Edge Movement in Oaks, Pennsylvania. But what keeps her so devoted to this art form? “I think I like both the athletic and the artistic aspect of it,” Rosenberg explains. “Everyone has their own type of dance style, and you can individualize it. And then, there’s the team aspect. You build special bonds when you’re dancing all those hours in the studio.”
While jazz has always been her favorite dance style, hip-hop has grown on her over the years. However, the path to becoming a skilled dancer has not been without its challenges. “Definitely, time commitment,” she admits. “Dancing three hours a night, plus rehearsals, it’s been hard with time management.”
This year, the EA Dance Team has faced unique challenges due to some coaching turnover. Despite this, Rosenberg and her fellow dance captain, Kailin Gao ’25, have stepped up to lead the team. “We’ve had to really step up, especially all the seniors,” Rosenberg says. “Kailin and I, with our outside school dance experience, have been able to keep it going, leading technique classes and stuff like that.”
Gao echoes this sentiment, praising Rosenberg’s creativity and energy: “She has a very creative mind. She choreographs with such passion and faith in everyone. I love her energy when she dances. Every dancer usually has their own quirk or style, but Hailey’s energy and attitude are truly unique. I wish I could have a little bit of that attitude as well.” Gao also highlights Rosenberg’s strong stage presence, particularly in her jazz solos: “She always hits the music right on the mark and portrays the lyrics and energy of the piece perfectly.”
Hailey Rosenberg’s dedication to dance is evident in her performances. Kate Dente ’25, a close friend of Rosenberg’s, admires her stage presence. “She’s so good,” Kate says. “She’s flawless with all of her moves and truly a beautiful dancer to watch.” Dente’s sentiment is proven true in Rosenberg’s performances both inside and outside the EA dance studio. But even a dancer with Rosenberg’s experience has faced setbacks. “A few months ago,” Rosenberg recalls, “I had a competition where I had choreographed my own solo and I did not score as I hoped. I didn’t feel like I had enough choreography in the dance to really make it my own.” Luckily for Rosenberg, her years of work have given her grit—and she wasn’t about to give up. “Instead of sitting with the bad score,” she says, “I made it a goal to put in extra hours with my coach and change the solo. At the next competition I felt more confident with the choreography and received a much better score.”
Ashley O’Connor, Upper School Math Teacher, has known Rosenberg since middle school and has been impressed by her dedication and work ethic. “She’s always been very focused, even since she was in sixth grade,” O’Connor notes. “Even today, in calculus, she just locked in the entire period.” Rosenberg’s ability to adapt to challenges, such as stepping up to choreograph for the dance team when they were short on coaches, has also impressed her teacher. O’Connor admires Rosenberg’s poise and ability to handle stress, qualities that have undoubtedly contributed to her success as a dancer. “She’s kind of quiet as a student, so to get to see her express herself on the stage was really neat,” O’Connor says. She encourages Rosenberg to continue her hard work and be proud of her accomplishments.
Taking on the role of choreographer at EA this year, Rosenberg became more than a dancer—she became a leader and mentor for the EA dance team. As Rosenberg prepares for college, she looks forward to bringing the same creativity and drive she shared with EA with to her next chapter, whether it’s through a college dance team or studio classes. Her passion for dance is undeniable, and her impact on the EA community will be felt for years to come.