ShawneeDispatch.com

Caleb Eklofe's dreams of teaching dance at conventions across the country are one step closer to coming true.

This summer, 16-year-old Caleb will get a taste of living as a dancer in Los Angeles as part of the L.A. DanceForce's Dance with the Force ensemble.

When Caleb went in January to a convention in Tulsa, Okla., he auditioned for a chance to be part of the ensemble, which includes three months of free classes at the Edge Performing Arts Center, rehearsals with prominent choreographers and a chance to be seen by the L.A. dance community in three performances. In Tulsa, Caleb was named one of three dancers who would be videotaped and sent on to the next level of the selection process, which narrowed the field to the 10 members of the Dance with the Force ensemble.

"I never ever thought I would be chosen out of the 10," Caleb said. "I guess I really got serious the past couple of years. I realized this is something I want to pursue and this is something I want to spend the rest of my life doing."

Although he started dancing when he was young, Caleb said he really became serious about pursuing dance when he first went to Los Angeles as a 12-year-old.

Caleb spends about 25 to 30 hours per week at his dance studio, Starstruck Performing Arts Center in Lenexa. During the school year, his schedule becomes jam-packed as Caleb balances his classes and school work at Mill Valley High School with his dance lessons at Starstruck and his weekend job at Barley's Brewhaus in Shawnee.

"During the school year it's really difficult to fit everything in my schedule," he said. "I take at least a minimum of 12 classes each week. I get done at school at 2:50 (p.m.), rush home and change my clothes, grab whatever I packed for dinner and be at dance by 3:30 or 4. I usually have rehearsal until 5, I usually take class from 5 to 8:30 and I am usually rehearsing around 8:30 to 10. Then I get home at about 10:30 and finish my homework. I usually get to bed around 1 or 1:30."

Caleb's favorite dance style is contemporary or lyrical.

"I like moving slow and I like how it all flows together," he said. "Secondly, I would have to say that I like jazz or musical theater because it's fun and entertaining to watch."

While Caleb gets to take free classes as part of the Dance with the Force ensemble, he still has to pay for his room and board in Los Angeles.

"It's pretty expensive to live out there for a month, so every open time I have I am working to try to help my parents save up enough for me to go," he said.

Caleb will be attending nationals for dance in San Antonio at the end of June and from there he will leave for Los Angeles where he will spend about a month and a half taking classes.

"It's going to be such a great learning experience and it's going to give me a good feeling for what life would be like after college," Caleb said.

As he is entering his junior year, Caleb hasn't finalized his college plans, but he likes the University of Arizona. After college, Caleb plans to pursue his dream to teach dance.

"What I've always wanted to do ever since I was little and my mom started taking me to dance conventions, I've always wanted to teach at a convention," he said. "I want to be a teacher. After college, I think I will take my route auditioning and seeing what is out there that I like."