With a 5th metatarsal fracture and the biggest performance of December ahead of her, junior Abbey Garrison – who has been dancing for 13 years – plans to take the stage with both fear and determination. Dancing with an injury is a challenge, but for Garrison, it is a story of perseverance.
“Right after it happened, I was told not to dance on it because I couldn’t put weight on it,” Garrison said. “The doctor is mainly worried about it breaking again, especially on stage.”
Through lots of stretching, icing, and mental preparation, Garrison is more than ready to take the stage in The Nutcracker. With just over a week to practice her choreography, she is demonstrating remarkable determination.
“I started dancing literally last week, just running through the dances without pointe shoes,” Garrison said. “Then I started wearing pointe shoes on Tuesday, which was my first time dancing in them since my fracture.”
The Nutcracker is incredibly important to many dancers, and taking a break from it only to be expected to bounce back can be tough. Garrison is grateful to have been cleared to dance; however, due to her injury, her choreography had to be adjusted, and she had to drop her Snowflake role, which is a fast-paced dance involving a lot of running and jumping.
“Specifically for Snow Queen, my dance director took out some of the jumps because my doctor still doesn’t want me doing any large jumps”, Garrison said. “I can do small ones, though. And then she took me out of Snowflakes yesterday because it’s really hard on your core.”
Garrison’s dedication to dancing goes beyond just the physical effort. When she first injured herself, The Nutcracker was her immediate focus.
“I knew it was bad because I couldn’t feel my whole foot, and I thought, great,” Garrison said. “The number one thing on my mind was, ‘I’m not going to be able to do my dream part.”
The extra steps Garrison has taken to prepare her body for the long hours of dancing are often unseen.
“I was taking ibuprofen every eight hours to keep the swelling and pain down,” Garrison said. “I’ve also been constantly icing, which temporarily helps.”
Garrison’s determination and grit is undeniable, and much of her success can be attributed to the incredible support of her family and friends. Senior Ashley Bobo has been taking care of her almost like a second sister.
“I’ve been driving her to school every day since she can’t drive right now. I’ve basically become her sister. I’m always over at their house, carrying her stuff in and talking to her family,” Bobo said.
Garrison is surrounded by amazing people who are beyond proud of her. After months of not dancing and resting her foot, she is now dancing for hours every day and pushing herself hard.
“She’s a trooper. I can’t believe she’s doing it. In the middle of rehearsal, I looked at her face and thought, I know she’s in pain. I literally started crying because she’s doing so well,” Bobo said. “I just can’t believe she’s doing it. It’s so awesome, and I am so beyond proud of her.”
