By Jen Samuel, Managing Editor
HIGHTSTOWN — For a young resident of the borough, dancing is not a hobby — it’s a passion.
Jorina Kardhashi, 13, is dedicated to her craft. The eighth grade student on average practices 20 hours per week, which increases under her performance schedule.
Enrolled at the Chapin School, in Princeton Township, Jorina heads to Princeton Dance and Theater Studio (PDT) in the Princeton Forrestal Village after-school each day.
"She is very gifted. (Jorina) was definitely born to dance. She just has a natural inclination and strength beyond her years,” said Risa Kaplowitz, co-founder of PDT, on Jan. 24. Ms. Kaplowitz is also the co-founder and creative director of DanceVision Inc, a non-profit organization.
Ms. Kaplowitz, a former principal dancer with the Manhattan Ballet and the Dayton Ballet, is Jorina’s main dance teacher. Ms. Kaplowitz said Jorina practices for about three hours a day — six times a week.
And while Jorina receives her technical training at PDT, she performs in productions — including “The Secret Garden” and “The Nutcracker” — produced by the DanceVision Performance Company.
"DanceVision’s purpose is to bring these performances to the community and (to) also provide outreach, “ Ms. Kaplowitz said, referring to its educational programs.
A student of PDT for approximately seven years, Jorina has moved up the ranks as a performer.
In December, she performed a leading role in DanceVision’s original production of Han Christian Anderson’s “The Snow Queen,” which Ms. Kaplowitz choreographed.
"What I saw was her potential fully realized,” Ms. Kaplowitz said. “She was not only able to handle the technical aspects, but she also brought her character to life in a very natural way . . . She really breathed her character. And, that made me extremely proud.”
"’The Snow Queen’ tells the tale of a young girl’s courageous journey to rescue her dear friend from the beautiful yet evil Snow Queen,” according to DanceVision’s Website.
Jorina was cast as Gerda, the courageous girl who risks everything to find her friend.
Jorina and her father Renard Kardhashi sat down with the Herald at the Hightstown Memorial Library to share her story on Jan. 17.
"It really allows me to challenge myself in a different way,” Jorina said of dancing. “There is never a point that you can stop learning things. You have to keep trying because otherwise you’ll never succeed.”
Jorina said she enjoyed the acting aspect of playing Gerda and that she had to “think about what she was going through (in) my dancing.”
She praised the artistic expression she was allowed to experience in “The Snow Queen” through PDT’s guidance.
Although Jorina said turns were a big part of the show, she enjoys jumps.
"They make me feel like I’m flying,” she said.
"It’s a big commitment,” Mr. Kardhashi said of his daughter’s dance schedule.
While Jorina enrolled in small dance classes as a second grader at the YMCA, she enrolled at PDT in 2004.
"They put her in level two right away,” Mr. Kardhashi said, adding that his daughter skipped another level last year.
An honor student, Jorina is the editor of the Chapin School’s yearbook and a staff writer for the student newspaper Between the Lines.
She also paints.
"Art is one of my passions,” Jorina said.
As for her future career as a dancer, Jorina said she wants to see how far she can pursue it.
Jorina encouraged other young people who felt the inclination to pursue dancing.
"Definitely try it and see if you’ll be hooked right away,” she said. “It might become your passion. And, you might fall in love with it and it will definitely be worth your time.”
Mr. Kardhashi, a native of Albania, relocated his family to the Netherlands, where Jorina was born in 1998.
In 2000, the family moved to America.
He praised the Chapin School for supporting Jorina, noting that most of her teachers attended a performance of “The Snow Queen.”
For more information on DanceVision Inc., visit www.dancevisionnj.org.
To learn about Princeton Dance and Theater Studio, visit www.princetondance.com.

