Stoneham Girl Dances Her Way to Victory

Stoneham Patch Whiz Kid of the Week

• Meghan Lapery, 10
• Accomplishment: Lapery and her dance team won a special award for their performance of “Over the Rainbow” in Andover during their competition at Dancexplosion on March 25.

Key to awesomeness: Lapery has been dancing for eight years and it is her favorite activity that she participates in. For the past four years, Lapery has been a member of the competition team.

“My studio is in Stoneham," Lapery said. "Miss Tracy (Della Russo) and Miss Michaela (Della Russo) are my teachers along with many others. I dance ten hours a week.

"I take jazz, tap, lyrical, hip-hop, modern and acro. I love to dance and love spending time at the studio.”

Lapery said she's enjoyed participating in dancing events.

“We have been to many dance competitions," Lapery said. "Last summer, we went to Wildwood, N.J. for a national competition. It was a lot of fun.

“This past weekend we went to Andover and I competed with a group in jazz, tap, lyrical and hip-hop. We won a special award.”

Lapery also performs in the production number with the entire team. Her production is called "Man with a Bug."

“In this one, I'm a present and dance jazz," Lapery said. "Then I have a costume change and I turn into a toy soldier and tap.

“We practiced many hours to learn the dance. At the competition, we got an extreme platinum, which is the highest award.”

Lapery also gets involved in jazz solo and a jazz duo. It was her first year doing a solo and was extremely excited on how she performed.

“I placed in the top 10 of my jazz category out of about 25 dancers who were between the ages of 10 and 12,” Lapery said. “There were so many good studios at the competition. Our studio did really well and won a lot of great awards.”

Lapery and her dance team will travel to Concord, N.H. in a couple of weeks to compete with other dance teams.

“We will be spending a lot of time getting ready,” Lapery said.

When Lapery isn't dancing, she enjoys many different activities to keep herself busy.

“I just finished a sewing class," Lapery said. "I made my own pajama bottoms, a stuffed walrus and a tote bag. I also play soccer and I'm on a Stoneham travel team.

“My team did very well in the fall so I'm hoping we will do well this spring as well. I have to practice once or twice a week with my team and I love to play."

During the winter months, Lapery enjoys skiing, sledding and snowmobiling.

“My dad taught me how to ride my very own snowmobile all by myself," Lapery said. "I have to wear a helmet and I have to be very careful not to crash. I go snowmobiling with my family in New Hampshire and we always stay at a place in Twin Mountains called Carlson’s Lodge.”

While Lapery enjoys many different activities, her real passion is dancing and getting up on stage and performing.

“I love the costumes, the make-up and the jewelry," Lapery said. "Someday I would like to try out for (the TV show) 'So You Think You Can Dance' like my dance teacher Michaela did.

“Dance takes up a lot of my time, but I don't mind because I enjoy it so much.”