ROANOKE, Va. – Most days you’ll find Ida Sheldon tap dancing in the studio but her mom took on a new beat to showcase her daughter.
Sheldon first put on a pair of tap dancing shoes when she was five, and now nine years later, the teen took home a 16th place victory at Nationals with her performance “Club Nine.”
“Hearing that I was 16 overall I almost started crying I was so happy. It was … that was like almost life-changing for me,” Ida said.
Following the results, Ida took a trip with her mom, Suebee, down to the beach.
It was there that Suebee took out her camera and captured a moment that will now spread all over the world – a picture of Ida dancing on the beach will be featured in Inspiring Teens Magazine.
When Ida first heard about the opportunity, she didn’t believe it was real.
“I thought it was a joke. I thought it was a joke,” Ida said.
It wasn’t a joke – it was a chance for the Roanoke teen to discuss the passion she has for tap.
A passion her longtime choreographer, Andrea Boone, said has continued to grow from that moment she put on the first pair of tap shoes.
“It’s been a joy to see how she’s progressed over the time and not only through her skills but through her passion and excitement for her dance,” Boone said.
Ida has built a very strong relationship with Boone.
“She’s been there to support me and help me, and she’s honestly been one of the people who has helped me learn tap most of my life,” Ida said.
Ida tap dances at the Linda Watkins’ School of Dance. Her mom said the school along with the owner and other parents have been such a tremendous help during troubling times.
Ida’s younger sister has a deficient immune system because of a severe run-in with Lyme disease. At age 11, Ida spent about two months away from her parents while they traveled for medical procedures.
Sheldon said tap is a way for her to escape.
“It’s there for me and it always makes me feel better in any time of need,” Ida said.
If you have a kid looking to get into some dance lessons, the Linda Watkins’ School of Dance is always accepting new learners. Get the chance to learn all the moves Ida has down by registering.