Student Snapshot: Leah Blatt ’22

Leah Blatt '22

A dancer who studied privately throughout her childhood and high-school years and performed and trained at Le Jeune Dance Academy in Cincinnati, Leah Blatt ’22 was drawn to Dickinson because of the Dickinson College Ballet Certificate Program With Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB). During her first year on campus, she maintained a full schedule in preprofessional ballet and in academics. And after a summer taking part in the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s Company Experience, the Joffrey Chicago Summer Intensive and the CPYB summer course, she’s at it again, enriching her second year at Dickinson by bringing what she learns in class into the studio and vice versa. “It’s important to stay determined,” she says. “Eventually, the work will pay off.”

Hometown:

Cincinnati, Ohio.

Major:

International business & management, paired with the Dickinson College Ballet Certificate with Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB) program.

Clubs and organizations:  

Alpha Lambda Delta.

Honors/scholarships/awards:

Dean’s List and National Society of Leadership and Success.

Favorite book:

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

Favorite movie:

Pride and Prejudice.

On choosing a major:

I declared a major in international business & management because developing business skills will allow me to find more ways to engage in the arts that go beyond performing.

On choosing Dickinson:

I decided to attend Dickinson because of its partnership with the renowned Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. With this unique program, I realized I would have the opportunity to pursue my passion for ballet, while receiving a valuable liberal-arts education.

Favorite place on campus:

The Waidner-Spahr Library.

Favorite Dining Hall food:

Vegan broccoli-cheddar soup.

Favorite class so far:

Fundamentals of Business because we learned how to work in teams and create a business model. It was a challenging and rewarding experience to develop, finance and market our product/service throughout the semester. This class introduced me to how businesses operate and strategize in the real world, and it has therefore motivated me to major in this field.

Little-known hobby/talent:

I play the piano and violin.

As I kid, I wanted to be …

… a pianist.

Most important thing I’ve learned so far:

The most important thing I’ve learned this year is to be patient and persistent. My freshman year involved long nights in the studio and late nights studying, and oftentimes it was difficult to stay motivated while working towards my goals. However, by the time summer approached, I was beginning to see myself grow as both an artist and a student. Therefore, I learned that even if I am not seeing immediate results in ballet or school, it is important to stay determined. Eventually, the work will pay off.

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Published December 19, 2019