Mollie Becker, 16, demonstrates a Russian pas de chat ballet jump at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Webster. Photo by Alysha Beck

Ballerina applies lessons in dance to all areas of life

Clear Lake area resident Mollie Becker has been dancing all of her life. Becker, who began her ballet training at age 2, doesn’t remember a time when she didn’t wear ballet shoes.
A junior at Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart in Houston, Becker already has accomplished her dancing goals. Invited to perform with ballet companies in both Russia and Israel, the young star has learned from the best. She was in Russia during the summer of 2013.
“You learn something different from each teacher you have,” she said. “But the teachers in Russia were by far the best. There are none better. They were amazing. For two weeks, I danced and toured the city of St. Petersburg. We had a private performance there and saw Russian Prima Ballerina Alina Somova dance with the Mariinsky Company. That was fantastic.”
Her studies with the Israeli National Ballet preceded her trip to Russia by one year. While in Israel for two months, she danced eight hours a day during intensive classes for four weeks. During the second month, she toured the country with her synagogue, Temple Beth Tikvah, which is in the Clear Lake area.
“In Israel, I stayed with a family; it was wonderful,” she said. “We saw so many wonderful sights, and I learned so much in addition to dancing. Each company and each teacher have such different styles and with each class, I learned so much.”
Now a global citizen, it’s no wonder she hopes to study international politics or political science in college.

Mollie Becker, 16, has traveled overseas, including to Russia, to take part in intensive ballet classes. Photo by Alysha Beck

“It is something I am very interested in, and although I will continue to dance, this is the field of study I want to pursue,” she said. “I hope to either go to George Washington University or Fordham University, a research University in New York City. I’m not sure yet. Right now, I am concentrating on my dancing.”
Becker spends up to 20 hours a week dancing.
Tall and thin, her body is as disciplined as her mind. With almost straight As in her studies, her dance training has helped in all areas of her life, she said.
“I would say that dancing helped me mature and be responsible,” Becker said. “As a dancer, it is all about self motivation. It helps in communicating with adults and people of all ages. You have to practice, you have to always look nice, make sure you are on time, have all of your clothes and shoes ready for dancing. No one does it for you.”
Her expertise in dance is only one of her performing arts skills. Currently a Master Level 8 pianist, she’ll earn a degree from the Piano Conservatory in Barcelona Spain by the time she graduates from high school thanks to her teacher, who is affiliated with the conservatory.
“I love the piano and playing,” she said. “I am so involved in dance and piano, and I think the discipline I have learned has helped me with both.”
In her spare time, she teaches Sunday school at Temple Beth Tikvah on some weekends.
“Mollie is a joy, a real treasure,” said Christine Paul, principal of Temple Beth Tikvah. “She is in so many activities, involved with her dance, and still she makes time to come to religious school with a big smile on her face.”