2018-19 Student Spotlight | Dance
Young Artists Head Back To School At Louisiana’s Arts Conservatory NOCCA
Student Spotlight | Elizabeth Zaffuto
Elizabeth Zaffuto | Dance
Photo from: Regional Dance America National Choreography Intensive, one of our nightly performances. Every day we learned and performed new choreography. There were 52 dancers and about 11 choreographers total at this intensive. Photo Credit: Gary Taylor Photography.
As NOCCA (New Orleans Center for Creative Arts) opens its doors for the 2018-2019 school year for hundreds of students from across the state, take a moment to learn more about a young artist who is making it happen at the prestigious arts school.
Interview with student Elizabeth Zaffuto, 10th Grade Dance |NOCCA Full-Day Academic Studio from Hammond, LA
How do you feel about starting your sophomore year at NOCCA?
I am very excited to see what the new school year brings. I can’t wait to start learning and growing as a student and artist.
How have you started preparing for the next school year? Have you done any special programs this summer?
This summer, I’ve been taking ballet classes, as well as attending summer intensives. I attended the National Choreography Intensive at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas and Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensive. The intensives focused a lot on contemporary dance forms. Specifically, the National Choreography Intensive (NCI) taught me to be a quick learner and be comfortable with the fact that not every show will be perfect. This is due to the fact that every night we’d perform a piece of choreography we learned in that same day.
What is your goal for the next school year?
This school year, I really want to branch out and try new things while perfecting the skills that are my strengths.
How have you grown over the past year at NOCCA in your arts?
I have grown tremendously as a dancer and have become more open to different dance styles and techniques.
Do you have any high school accomplishments that make you proud?
Yes. I maintained good grades all throughout my freshman year and performed in my first NOCCA dance concert.