Meet Whiz Kid: Anabel Crawford

Name: Anabel Crawford, 13

Schools: Decatur School of Ballet, Shamrock Middle School

Accomplishments: This young dancer was recently accepted into Decatur City Dance’s Junior Ensemble. At the age of the 13, she is the youngest company member.

A middle child of triplet girls, Anabel has been dancing since she was three. Today she spends five days a week in dance classes at Decatur School of Ballet and is an assistant dance teacher. She
loves performing and says “it’s fun to be on stage.”

To be eligible for Junior Ensemble, dancers must audition and have classical ballet training through the beginning pointe level.

She also performs jazz and modern dance and at the age 10 was invited to join The Rug Cutters, a teen swing dance performance troupe headquartered at Decatur School of Ballet. The group
performs several times a year for community and civic events.

She began learning yoga at the age of four and now is a trained teacher at “Grounded,” where she teaches Anusara-inspired yoga to kids and teens. “I like doing yoga before I dance. It relaxes me.”

Anabel is a straight-A student at Shamrock Middle School, served as editor of the school yearbook and played viola in the orchestra. She is particularly good at math and likes to demonstrate her advanced skills in tournaments.

“She is dedicated to dancing and would never miss a class,” said her mom Cheryl, co-owner of “Grounded.” Dance has given her a grace that carries over into all aspects of her life, even in her relationship with animals. 

“Cats follow her everywhere,” said Cheryl. They adore her so much that around her neighborhood she is known as ‘the cat whisperer' and her friends affectionately call her "The Cat Lady."