"In my very first competition, I won first prize," said Emily
By Rosalie Ann LaGrutta
Highland dancing is not for everyone, but for 8-year-old Emily Aline Janoski, a third-grade student in Hopewell Elementary School, it’s sheer joy.
"I started dancing when I was 4," said Emily. "I had seen other forms of dancing ballet, jazz, and Irish dancing. Then one day my parents took me to see a girl in a highland dancing contest. That’s when I decided that I wanted to do highland dancing," she said.
When Emily dances in the house, her 3-year-old brother, Vincent, sometimes stands behind her and mimics her steps. He’s not quite as graceful, but a delight to watch, nevertheless.
Emily’s parents are Sue Seferian and Vince Janoski, who have been with Emily every step of the way. There were no classes for highland dancing in the area, so in September 2003 they enrolled her in Caledonian Highland Dancers in Pennsylvania, near Oxford Valley Mall. Every Thursday evening, after the entire family already has had a long day, Emily is driven to dance class.
"The trip is, indeed, hectic," said Ms. Seferian. "Emily has to come home immediately after school, do her homework, eat a quick dinner and then leave for class, but she loves it so much I wouldn’t dream of not taking her."
Ms. Seferian was informed early on that Emily has a gift for highland dancing. Her teacher, Sandra Weyman, told Ms. Seferian, "no pressure, but she was made to do this. She has all the right equipment"
Emily recently received an "encouragement" card from Ms. Weyman. It said: "You have much potential to be a top Highland dancer . . . including important traits like focus and work ethic . . . but most of all, heart. This shows through your eyes when you dance and it is an amazing thing to watch . . . I hope that we can share many wonderful dance experiences along the way."
When asked if she had any thoughts of what she’d want to do in adulthood, Emily said: "I think of highland dancing, teaching and painting."
Emily has earned about 63 medals in the first three categories of dancing. "There are six categories," Emily explained. "They are Highland Fling, Sword Dance, Seann Triubhas (Shawn Troos), Flora MacDonald, Lilt, and Reel O’Tulloch."
Highland dancers perform to live bagpipes, and Emily is fortunate because her father plays bagpipes for her when she practices her dancing at home. An experienced "piper," Mr. Janoski also has played the bagpipes for the Hopewell community for example, for a Hopewell Library event in 2005. And, he plays every St. Patrick’s Day for children at Hopewell Elementary School. Naturally, Emily dances on those occasions.
Emily has danced all over the eastern seaboard. And last summer she danced in Scotland, where she won several medals and "first place." She took part in at least a dozen competitions during 2005-2006, and when spring break starts, Emily will be going to Florida to dance.
"In my very first competition, I won first prize," said Emily, "and that kept me going."

