Dorianna Filippo (Hampton, Ont.), a varsity dancer with the Ontario Tech University dance team, is currently enroled in the forensic psychology program.
 
During her time at Ontario Tech, Filippo has played many roles – from varsity dancer to taking on the role of Ontario Tech Student Union (OTSU) vice president of student life. When asked about her excitement about being titled as vice president of student life for school year 2020-2021, she summarised the huge community support that she was proud to be a part of.
 
"My excitement level is through the roof for this opportunity," Filippo will be the first vice president to come from an athletic background. "Being part of a Ridgebacks varsity team, I saw the huge community support and I really wanted to see that in the entire school. I'm super happy to be involved and getting to work with such wonderful people."
 
Filippo will be maintaining her position on Team Canada, as they compete at the Dance World Cup for the 2020-2021 term. Having competed for the past two years, in Spain and Barcelona, respectively, Filippo said that experience is as nerve-wrecking as exciting.
 
"This year the competition was supposed to be in Italy, but with the virus it wasn't likely to happen. Going there and seeing the style of specific genres which is very different than what Canada offers which is phenomenal to see," the variety of cultures coming together to compete excited Filippo. "I don't think I slept for about ten days because I was so nervous. Winning medals for my country and placing within top ten with amazing individuals who supported me, was wonderful."
 
Growing up on countryside farms, Filippo was brought up with a huge sense of community and love for outdoor activities. She believes that one fact about her which nobody knows much about, is that she was recruited to play rep soccer.
 
"When I was little, I wasn't good at dance. I was very good at soccer. I was recruited for a rep team. I was asked to be on the team and train with them, so I did, and I was really good, but I didn't want to continue. I wanted to dance," Filippo states that there was a path made for her with a soccer career, but she didn't want to pick that route.
 
"I knew that there were so many other people who were pushing so hard to be the best at their sport and I knew that the future of a dancer as a female, there's so much to choose from!"
 
She was certain that the choice wasn't going to be an easy one, but it was achievable with the right amount of passion and persistence.
 
"I knew so many people who hurt their knees and ruined their bodies playing soccer and I didn't know if I wanted that for me. I love challenges and hence I started training with more focus to make dance my number one sport."
 
Filippo strongly believes that a dance routine consists of many components, however, emotions and storylines plays a huge role in competitive dance.
 
"For example, contemporary is very different than jazz. Contemporary craves drama, passion, that's what makes the routine. Jazz is visually appealing to the eye, the 'wow' factor, and hip-hop for example is the one that makes a normal person in the crowd stand up and dance with you," Filippo emphasises that she strives to be a versatile dancer and hence does not have a favourite genre of dance that she prefers.
 
When asked about her relationship with fellow teammate, Danielle Bates, who looks up to Filippo as her role model, Filippo extends her gratitude of knowing Bates since they were little.
 
"Danielle is extraordinary. She's a beast in her style, in school and literally everything. We grew up together as we went to the same dance studio. Even though we fell out of touch for a few years, once we found each other on the Ridgebacks team, we came back to the same kind of flow we had before."
 
Filippo believes that Bates and herself were quiet individuals who worked hard and trained constantly. She is constantly amazed by Bates and her ever-growing skill-set.
 
"Having her as the captain this year was amazing. She was fully invested in our team, she could lead us, and she did everything to hype our spirits. She's honestly, there is no words to describe her, she's an astonishing individual."
 
As she enters into another year of dance, she wishes everyone the best and advises them to push for nothing but greatness.
 
"I know that with everything going on in the world, it's hard to pursue paths that you want to; there's many struggles, but there are people here to support you. If you want to push for greatness, you will - no matter what. I'm here to support anyone who needs me. You may not know me, but I've got you."