Vanessa Carroll: ONE of my Favorite Dance Teachers - Talia Serra Bradley
Throughout my thirteen years of dance training this far, I have had some pretty extraordinary teachers. Every single one of my teachers have gone above and beyond for me and I hands down would give the majority of my success to them. When asked who my favorite teacher is, I truly can’t pick one who is “better” than the others. What I can do is talk about the teacher who has inspired me the most. The teacher who unfortunately got taken out of mine and hundreds of others lives way too soon. This is Talia Serra Bradley.
Talia was my dance teacher for eleven years. She was also one of the owners of my second home, South Coast Performing Arts. Growing up, I always wanted to be just like her. She had a heart of gold, and her passion for dance spilled out of her soul with every step she took. On August 22, 2017 Talia danced her way up to heaven. Just nine months before this, she was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer. She was 39 years old, married and had two beautiful children. I truly wish everyone in the world could have met Talia, but for now I hope this blog post on all things she has done for me can makeup for it.
Talia spent countless hours working with me and helping me become the best that I could be. She never gave up on me, even when I gave up on myself. Talia was not just my teacher, but my mentor and someone that I looked up to day in and day out. She taught me that it is okay to fall down and sometimes, even though getting back up is the last thing you want to do, you just have to do it and go again.
Talia gave me skills and advice that I will always have. She made me believe in myself when I didn’t think I could go anywhere. Talia was there for me when my future didn’t seem all that bright and she knew everything would be okay.
She taught me that family doesn’t always have to be blood related. Family is there for you whenever you need them, whether it’s ten in the morning or ten at night. Talia made South Coast Performing Arts a second home that no dancer wanted to leave at night, but when the time did come, she would smile and say “I’ll see you tomorrow!”
Talia always pushed me, knowing I could do better, even when I thought less of myself and my own ability. I don’t know who I would be without her influences and I appreciate everything she has done for me for those eleven years I got to spend with her.
Because of Talia I have a level of confidence and grace I wouldn’t have otherwise. I have amazing memories I carry with me always and a voice in the back of my mind telling me to never give up and to always try again. She taught me that we all have our strengths and weaknesses and that doesn’t make a bad dancer, it makes us unique dancers that do things in ways different than others.
In conclusion, Talia Serra Bradley is a name that will forever live on. She made hundreds of lives better and I hope me just saying a tiny bit about her to you, put a smile on your face, for that is what she did best. Please don’t take any second of your day for granted. Your lucky you have it. Now please go hug the ones you love.
Love always,
Vanessa Carroll
I can’t believe summer break is almost over and school starts in two weeks but who is counting right?