Every day after Block 3, junior Jillia Aralis leaves school en route to what is considered one of the most prestigious ballet schools in the country–the Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet in downtown Chicago.
Aralis, who started ballet at age 13, whereas most dancers at her level start when they are 3 years old, had to practice a lot to catch up, spending hours at a barre in her basement dancing, she said.
“When I first saw ballet, I thought that it is the most beautiful thing in the world,” Aralis said. “It is so hard, but when you get it right it is rewarding.”
As a child, Aralis enjoyed soccer, so her mother, Amy Iverson Aralis, was surprised when she asked to start ballet.
“After Jillia started dancing, she said, ‘I would love to dance at Joffrey,’” Amy said. “I remember thinking: she just started, that is a reach. And here we are, four years later. She made it.”
She proves it is possible to pursue a dream later in life, Carrie Muntz, Administrative Staff and Dance Instructor at Dance and Music Academy, as well as Aralis’ private ballet teacher, said.
“Aralis is a great example of where hard work and determination can take you,” Muntz said.
Aralis competes at competitions such as the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), the New York City Dance Alliance, and the Universal Ballet Competition (UBC), where in their 2025 regionals she won first place in senior intermediate classical ballet and third place in senior intermediate contemporary ballet, according to their website, universalballetcompetition.com.
“Ballet is about taking classical stories and bringing them to life through dance,” Muntz said. “If you are doing some of these ballet competitions, like YAGP and UBC, you learn how to do that.”
Aralis does online Physical Education in order to have early release every day so she can travel to the Grainger Academy. While balancing school and dance can be difficult, Aralis has no regrets about managing her strenuous schedule because studying at the Grainger Academy is so fulfilling, she said.
Aralis’s schedule at the Grainger Academy consists of classes in ballet technique, pointe (where you dance on the tip of the toes using special pointe shoes), jazz, and contemporary dance five days a week, she said. In order to train at such a high level, she went through the Grainger Academy’s selective audition process, Muntz said.
“The Joffrey Ballet is one of the most reputable ballet academies worldwide,” Muntz said. “It is an honor to be a part of it, and it is giving her the opportunity to train with instructors who are very knowledgable with their craft and help her continue to learn and grow.”