In a community where school athletics are a huge part of the student body’s culture, junior Audrey Menichello’s passions lie elsewhere. She is a competitive dancer.
A typical day for Menichello starts early in the morning with a good breakfast. Then, she makes her way to school, often stopping for coffee along the way, and begins her school day with classes that interest her. Her favorites are science-related courses. After the final bell, she goes straight to dance, a place that has become central to her life.
She dances at The Dance Centre, located in Harleysville, Pennsylvania, where Menichello grew up. The Dance Centre is dedicated to turning young girls with passion into young women with talent.
Menichello began dancing at 3 years old. She recalled, “I’ve been dancing since I was 3. I love it. It’s my thing. I’ve been competing since I was in first grade, which is crazy, considering it’s been over 10 years.”
Menichello’s favorite style of dance is contemporary, or “modern” as her studio calls it. She also loves ballet because of its precision, and jazz because it allows her to have fun on stage.
While she enjoys many styles of dance, some of her most meaningful experiences have come through performance. Her favorite moment throughout her many years of dance was a modern number that was dedicated to her dance teacher’s mother, who had recently passed away from cancer.
They were performing at an amphitheater outside due to COVID-19 restrictions, and at the end of the dance, they walked into the grass and gave yellow roses to their mothers.
“I love that because the moms didn’t know. They were like, why is my daughter walking toward me? She’s on stage. Then they realized, almost like they were part of the dance too. That was really special, to be a part of, and to share that moment,” Menichello added.
Throughout the 14 years that she has been dancing, she built not only her skills but also friendships that will last a lifetime.
When asked what her favorite part of dancing is, Menichello responded, “I think the people I dance with. I think that influences it a lot. If I danced with people that I didn’t enjoy being around, I don’t think I would have kept with it this long,” she said. “You know, I’ve been through so much with them. They’re my family … I mean, these girls are just my whole world.”
When asked who her biggest inspiration is as a dancer, Menichello answered her best friend, Francesca “Chessie” Whalen.
“She’s one of the best performers and dancers, and she’ll never admit it … but she is just outstanding and very humble. Seeing her perform makes me want to push myself when I’m tired, or when I’m sore, because if she can do it, so can I.”
Chessie Whalen, a senior at Perkiomen Valley High School, described Audrey as “the most genuine friend she has ever had.”
Whalen mentioned that Menichello is an extremely talented dancer and that she is super intentional with any movement or style. She said that Audrey is always giving her full effort. But it isn’t just Menichello’s incredible talent and drive that makes her stand out. She is an amazing teammate.
“She’s always so encouraging of all of the girls on our team. She’s always willing to give anyone genuine advice about dance or just about life in general,” Whalen said.
One of the biggest responsibilities that Audrey has is being a good role model for her younger teammates. Being a good example to them by showing kindness and grace to others is more important to her than “having the highest leg or having the most turns or the front and center spot in a dance.”
Whalen said, “All of the younger girls in the studio are beyond lucky to have Audrey as a role model. She shows them how to be a great teammate and friend, and she motivates them to work just as hard as she does in the studio.”
Menichello does not want to leave dance behind when she goes to college. She wants to continue dancing at the club level in college and maybe even coming back to her studio for summer classes.
When Menichello isn’t dancing, she can be found listening to the poetic lyrics of her idol, Taylor Swift, spending time with her siblings, Michael and Anna, trying a new coffee shop, going on walks and hikes, and spending time with her friends.
“Audrey is an amazing friend and I love spending time with her. She is the first person I go to when I need advice and one of the most loyal and driven people I know, ” junior, Fiona Corr ‘27, said.
Menichello’s determination and ability to balance academics, dance, and relationships are unmatched. Even with her demanding schedule, she remains a loyal friend, a passionate teammate, a driven student, and her favorite role, an empathetic sister. Those close to Menichello say they are truly lucky to have Audrey in their lives, and Mount is truly lucky to have its dancing queen.
