Isabella Rapino has 16 years of dance experience, ranging from hip hop to ballet. She graduated from Quinte Ballet School of Canada with distinction in 2015, and just completed her first of two year at George Brown College for their Dance Performance Studies program. She has been instructing dance of various genres for 5 years at the Ireland Academy of Dance, while also being invited to substitute or host workshops at various other local schools. She just completed her second year of choreographing for a competitive team with three choreography awards under her belt. Isabella has a passion for dance – as both a performer and choreographer, however her ultimate aspiration is to achieve a career as a professional contemporary ballet dancer.
Aspiring a career in the arts without an agent has Isabella constantly researching into open casting calls, which is what led her to the casting call for Miss Teenage Canada. Miss Teenage Canada, a pageant founded by Michelle Wiswaldi, was created to not only provide the benefits of pageantry, but also promote body acceptance. This explains the pageant’s slogan: Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful.
To be eligible for Miss Teenage Canada, Isabella had to first be a finalist at the Miss Teenage Ontario pageant. Leading to regionals, Isabella surpassed her goal of raising $1500 for Cardiac Kids. After a weekend of competing, she was awarded as a finalist; receiving the title Miss Teenage South Central Ontario and the opportunity to compete for Miss Teenage Canada.
The Miss Teenage Canada competition is to take place in Toronto this coming July. There are three nights of competitions, with one being a Talent Night. Isabella is excited to perform a self choreographed routine to a narrative of her platform. As someone who has a history of juggling negative body self esteem with her passion for dance, she believed it was most suitable to choose a platform revolving around the physique stereotype of a successful dancer.
“‘Your body does not define the artist within you‘. This a quote I have created to support my platform as Miss Teenage South Central Ontario. Artistry initiates from within, however many individuals, including myself once upon a time, let my physique negatively influence my expression of emotion. A few years ago, there had been many times I seriously considered quitting dance. I couldn’t enjoy expressing through movement when I was distracted by my body insecurities. Ironically, it was dancing that cured my state of mind. To relieve the stress, I would dance alone in a studio without observing myself through a mirror. Not having the opportunity to stare at my flaws while I dance made me realize why I could never commit to quitting it: it is the exploration of movement that draws me in. Ever since then, I’ve stood by two things, which I encourage to all artists struggling to express their passion due to body insecurities: one is that it is confidence and artistry that impacts an audience more than body physique ever could, and the other is that since everyone is made unique, everyone is absolutely flawless…embrace that”. – Isabella Rapino
The top talent wins $500, and the top three win the opportunity to perform their talent during the live stream of the final Miss Teenage Canada pageant. One of Isabella’s goal is to be invited to dance her routine on July 24th’s final show, as her platform would then reach a wider audience. The other is to top off that night by earning the title of Miss Teenage Canada. A fast track award advances a contestant immediately into the top 20, whom are the only contestants considered for Miss Teenage Canada during that final show night. To win the People’s Choice Fast Track Award, Isabella has to be the contestant who receives the most online votes before July 24th. Voting information will be released closer to the national pageant on Isabella’s Facebook, Twitter, Blog, and the Miss Teenage Canada website.
As an active member of the dance community – from student, to performer, to instructor, to choreographer, Isabella is asking for support in helping her advance in the national competition. It is encouraged to follow her media accounts, as she actively updates her followers about her journey, including fundraiser and, when the time comes, voting information. To contact Isabella directly, email her at [email protected].