By: Isabel Barycki
Matthew Bartolo ’24 is currently a teacher assistant for dance but has secured a spot on the dance force for next year.
Bartolo has been dancing since he was seven however, he says he quit for five years due to bullying and returned when he was 14 years old.
Bartolo says he finds inspiration to keep dancing through his younger self. “I’m trying to keep that inner self happy again and make up for the years that I lost,” he says.
Through tryouts, Bartolo was given a spot on the Redwood dance team, Dance Force.
Bartolo says, “I’m kind of nervous to see what the school might think…I think it will be okay. I’m excited.”
Outside of Redwood, Bartolo dances in a Studio in Handford called Kings Dance Center and has been dancing there for almost 2 years.
In dance this year, Bartolo says he would describe the year as great. “Mrs. Lapp has been such a great mentor I always ask her what I can work on, and she always gives me the honest truth,” says Bartolo.
For next year, Bartolo says he is excited “…to do field shows, and do the sidelines, and obviously [the] dance show.”
Dance Forces teacher Mrs. Lapp says, “We haven’t had a boy [officially] on the dance team since about 2010.”
Because of this, Lapp says, “It will shift mainly how we choreograph so I’m excited.”
Lapp says, “I’m really proud of Matthew for all his hard work.”
Isabel Barycki
Isabel Barycki,´26 is a second year journalism member. Inside room 207 you can find her writing for the Features section for the Redwood Gigantea.
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