Ellie Rheam ’27
Regan Finlay ’26 is more than just a student: she puts her all into everything she does, whether that’s academics or dance. She’s currently preparing for her final performance with the EA Dance Team this February, and will be dancing in the jazz, hip-hop, and modern pieces, along with her solo choreographed to Michael Bublé’s “Feeling Good” in the concert.
Finlay has been dancing for sixteen years, starting at the age of two, when her grandmother got her pajamas with ballerinas printed on them. After receiving the gift, she says that she “begged [her] mom to do ballet,” and the rest is history. Finlay has come quite a long way since then, serving as one of three dance captains on EA’s team, as well as dancing outside of school multiple times a week. “I love [dancing], [and] being able to express emotion through movement,” Finlay reminisces. She notes that her favorite number of this season is hip-hop, remarking, “I don’t really get to do it outside of school; it’s really just fun.”
Photo courtesy of Kamau Kegler ’27
Doing so much both in and out of school can be difficult, especially with a sport such as dance that requires much rehearsal time to perfect, but Finlay handles it with grace. A close friend of Finlay, Cecelia Brunetti ’26, comments, “I think her work ethic is insane. Every single day here, she’s doing her homework in her frees because she has dance for [EA], which is until six-ish, kind of depending on the day, and she does her dance outside of school too. So then she doesn’t get home every night until sometimes 9:30.” Brunetti also discusses the motivation Finlay’s work ethic provides, inspiring her to work during the free time she shares with her friend. Further, Rebecca Hite, the new dance coach for this season, points out Finlay’s excellent technique: “You can tell she’s been dancing for a long time, and that she really, really loves to dance.” She continues, “I love watching her stage presence. She is so good at bringing a dance to life.”
Finlay has always been inspired by upperclassmen dancers, and now is “trying to be that role model” for younger team members, continuing to foster the inclusive team culture that she experienced. A member of the dance team, Vivian Clark ’29, touched on Finlay’s impressive character, noting, “This was my first time dancing for EA. She was a new face and she was so welcoming and kind.” Another dancer, Rhoads Henderson ’29, remarks that she is “a supportive senior in the dance community.” Not only does Finlay have a passion for the sport, but also for her team and its success. Hite praises Finlay’s work ethic: “[she has a] positive attitude every time she’s in class; she’s always willing to help out a fellow dancer.” She further adds that she “admire[s] her willingness to help others when they have questions, or if they’re having trouble with a certain section, she’s always there to provide support. That community building is really important with the dance team, and I think that she demonstrates that well.”
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Photo courtesy of Kamau Kegler ’27
Finlay is an integral part of the EA dance community. The countless hours she spends perfecting her work and helping others to do the same have been a major factor in making this year’s show the best it can be. She stands out not only to the coaches as an incredibly dedicated and talented dancer, but also to the dancers as an approachable leader on the team willing to help and teach. As she concludes her last dance season at EA, it is clear that she has made a major impact on the dance team and has achieved her goal of inspiring the younger dancers at EA. The dancers will miss her greatly next year as she goes off to study biochemistry at Boston College, but Finlay’s legacy of leadership and kindness will remain with them for years to come.
