Miami Country Day Online School
By Karin Davis
Director of Spartans Around
Ballet was her beginning. Online learning gave her the freedom to grow. This is where Evangeline Faraldo belongs: on stage, in life, and in pursuit of her dreams.
The theatre hums long before the curtain rises. Footsteps echo softly against the polished rehearsal floor. Somewhere beyond the heavy velvet drapes, an orchestra begins to tune. In the dim glow of the wings, a small girl stands perfectly still, watching a dancer sweep across the stage with impossible grace.
In that suspended moment between anticipation and awe, something inside Evangeline Faraldo quietly awakens. She does not yet have the language for it, only the certainty. This is where she belongs.
For Evie, ballet has always been more than movement. It is clarity. It is the place where distraction disappears, and purpose takes shape. From her earliest classes, she sensed that dance was not simply something she loved; it was something she needed. Every time she took a class, she felt a sense of purpose and belonging. The discipline, repetition, and resilience required to improve became part of her identity long before she realized it.
She speaks about performing with reverence: the charged stillness backstage, the sudden brilliance of the lights, the swell of music that signals the moment has arrived. Months of preparation condense into breathtaking minutes of presence and precision. When the applause finally comes, it brings what she describes as a deep, satisfying exhaustion, the unmistakable reward of giving everything to something meaningful. Evie explains that the applause at the end is rapture, the feeling of pure, fulfilled exhaustion that can only be truly experienced by someone living their passion.
Already, Evie has performed in major productions including The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and the premiere of The Spider’s Feast. Her favorite role, dancing as a cygnet in Swan Lake, demanded absolute synchronicity. “Everything had to be perfectly in sync; everyone had to breathe together, which made it intense. It pushed me to be the best version of myself onstage,” she recalls.
As her commitment to ballet deepened, so did the complexity of balancing a traditional school schedule with the growing demands of rehearsals and performances. By middle school, it became clear that continuing to pursue her passion at the highest level would require a different kind of academic experience, one designed not simply to accommodate her path, but to move with it.
Joining Miami Country Day’s Online Spartans Around learning platform marked a defining shift. Here, education did not compete with her ambitions; it evolved alongside them. The platform’s flexibility allows Evie to shape her days with intention, beginning her academic work early, adjusting timelines during production periods, and remaining fully engaged even as rehearsal hours intensify.
In this environment, learning becomes less about fitting into a schedule and more about building a life. Evie reflects: “Being an online student, like ballet, requires discipline. The academic work is intense, and there are lots of independent assignments. I have to stay organized and not give in to procrastination.” Supported by teachers and advisors who understand the rhythm of her commitments, she has developed the independence and discipline to pursue excellence in both the studio and the classroom. What once felt like a balancing act now feels like alignment.
Her family has witnessed this dedication from the very beginning. Her mother, Jamaica Jordan, says: “We first noticed Evie’s passion for performing when she began dancing at just three years old. From the very beginning, it was always ballet; her interest never wavered. What has stood out most is her dedication. She is never too tired, never unprepared, and always ready for ballet. Her commitment has remained constant over the years. Watching her on stage is truly beautiful. There is nothing better than seeing her do what she loves.” Choosing online learning ensured that Evie could pursue excellence in both academics and dance without sacrificing either.
Looking ahead, her vision is clear. She dreams of becoming a professional dancer and one day performing the iconic role of Odette in Swan Lake. She understands that the path forward will demand even greater commitment, but she moves toward it with quiet confidence, guided by a sense of purpose that has been growing since that first moment in the wings.
Center stage, standing tall beneath the lights’ warmth, Evangeline Faraldo lets the applause settle around her. As she turns to leave, her eyes drift toward the wings. A young dancer stands there, waiting quietly, watching everything. For a moment, Evie pauses. Then she smiles, disappearing softly beyond the curtain, the music still echoing somewhere behind her.
