Alex Kessinger is no stranger to the stage. A long time dancer and performer, she has been seen performing at Chapman in several Greek Life events such as Skit, Airbands, and Delta Queen, a number of dance shows for Chapman’s dance department, as well as in numerous dance competitions all over the country. If you’re lucky enough, you might even catch her on a past season of the dance reality show, So You Think You Can Dance.
OF: How long have you been dancing?
AK: I’ve been dancing for about fifteen years!
OF: When did you know that dance was a passion you wanted to pursue as a career?
AK: I started at the age of five and I always knew it was my passion. However, I didn’t realize that I wanted to pursue a career in it until I was a freshman in high school.
OF: Did you ever consider quitting or feel like you were getting burnt out?
AK: For me, dance is something that I could never live without. I’ve never been the one to quit or give up so no matter what, I’ve always stuck with dance because I knew in the long run, I have put so much hard work into it. I also could never leave behind the feeling of how rewarding it is once you walk off stage and people are cheering for you. It is such a humbling experience!
OF: What was your experience like on SYTYCD?
AK: Auditioning for SYTYCD was such an incredible experience!! Being surrounded by so much talent left me in awe the entire time.
OF: Any crazy stories from the show?
AK: Going through that process is absolutely crazy within itself, but I think the funniest story I have is that during my jazz audition, my partner and I were going so full out that he accidentally punched me in the face and I was so nervous that it was going to be on air… Kind of terrifying actually haha.
OF: You have obviously had the opportunity to dance in front of a number of crowds before. Do you ever get nervous before performing or has it always come easily?
AK: I feel like only a few people know this but I am the MOST nervous person before I perform!! It’s something I cannot control, and it never goes away! I immediately become super quiet and I get a ton of butterflies in my stomach, but I use all the nerves to help me in the long run for when I perform.
OF: What have been some of the highlights from your dance career?
AK: So far my highlights of my dance career have been auditioning for SYTYCD, being a part of Santa Clause 3, traveling to Australia my junior and senior years of high school for the international World Cup and getting the gold for the U.S., becoming an assistant of Marguerite Derricks, becoming Miss Dance America and in college, the highlights are endless!
OF: Some highlights from college?
AK: As far as from Chapman, I’ve been apart of American Celebration since freshman year, and obviously Skit, Airbands, and Delta Queen are at the top of my list (GO DG!!).
OF: What are your goals after Chapman?
AK: After I graduate from Chapman, I would love to incorporate my dance career into film or even start to build up an acting career! I absolutely love to perform so I am definitely going to stay within the performing arts.