Wake up. Eat breakfast. Get ready. Go to school. Go to dance. People might think every day of Zuri Brown’s life is pretty ordinary for an eleventh grader. 

What some may not know is that seven whole hours out of her day are occupied with dance. 

“I’ve spent so much time dancing and perfecting my craft that it’s like a second life to me,” Brown said.

Brown’s everyday schedule is filled with her academics and extracurricular activities. After school and grades, her number one priority is dance and her team, the CHS Charms, then comes orchestra. 

“By practicing everyday and trying my best I’m able to give the Charms one hundred percent of my best abilities in order to serve as a valuable member and asset to the team,” Brown said.

As a former Collective Dance Artistry Performance Company dancer, juggling and balancing multiple dance teams comes easy to Brown. Before joining the Charms, she has been on three dance teams in the past. Her favorite part of being on these teams was being able to travel all around the country for competitions. Having this previous, more professional experience on the dance company allowed Brown to easily make the Varsity team for the CHS Charms.  

“The CHS Charms should consider themselves lucky to have gained an asset like Zuri, because I sure will miss having someone with as much dedication as her on our team,” Brown’s former company dance director, Ashley Lopez, said.

 Misty Copeland (the first African American Female Principal Dancer with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre) and Steven McRae (an Australian ballet and tap dancer) have been her biggest inspirations throughout her dance career. Her company dance director, Ashley Lopez, has been her biggest role model throughout her journey as a company dancer. Lopez helped her explore and learn many new styles of dance she was originally afraid to try. “My director on my company team, she helped me reach outside of my comfort zone with dance,” said Brown.

The friends Brown has made along the way are one of her favorite parts of being a CHS Charm. Although Brown dances for the Varsity Charms, she serves an important role on both Varsity and Junior Varsity Charms. She is a close friend to all members of the CHS Charms, whether it’s JV or Varsity. Brown believes that she brings a “different aspect of dance” to the team. 

“Zuri just brings a unique, positive energy to the entire team, and inspires all of us to give our one hundred percent.” states Sofia Schnoke, JV CHS Charm.