Prairie Ridge Senior Accepted Into Julliard School of Dance

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL - Prairie Ridge High School senior was taking a test when she received the call she had been waiting for.

“I knew it was a New York (phone) number, and I thought maybe it was Juilliard. I called the director back and he said I’m pleased to tell you, you’ve been accepted to Juilliard," Lasak said. "I screamed on the phone and didn’t know what to say besides thank you. I was just so excited."

Lasak is one of 12 women and 12 men accepted into Julliard's dance division. Ten auditions were held in recent months in five cities: New York, Miami, Chicago, Dallas, and San Francisco. Catherine auditioned in Chicago on January 29 along with 59 others, according to the news release.

The auditions started with a hour-and-a-half ballet class. After that, 45 were cut. Then fifteen took a one-hour modern dance class where three more were cut. With six boys ans six girls remaining, each performed a solo, according to the news release. The remaining twelve also rehearsed a repertory with a Juilliard faculty member, and two more were cut. The final 10 were interviewed.

The call in March from Julliard ended Lasak's nearly two-month wait. And is a testament to Lasak's hard work and training over the years.

“For the past two years, I have been commuting to Chicago six days a week. I also spent the last two summers training at The School of American Ballet in New York City because I wanted to take my training further.”

Lasak practices 28 hours per week. She hopes to one day become a professional ballerina and work with a dance company. Lasak says her family and District 155 have been supportive.

“I’m 99 percent sure I will be attending Juilliard in the fall," Lasak said. "I’m grateful for my family for supporting me and that they support my passion.”

Steven Koch, principal at Prairie Ridge High School, shared his excitement over the news that Lasak had been accepted into Julliard: