As the saying goes, life imitates art.
This story is about one of those times when that phrase doesn’t ring true.
In August, Saint Francis Catholic Secondary School student Molly Levay will dance on stage at the First Ontario Performing Arts Centre in St. Catharines, portraying a dancer denied the role of her dreams.
The role, of course, is a dream for the Grade 10 student, who will reprise the lead role in My Mulan this summer.
The story focuses on Michelle, a young dancer in modern times who auditions for a part and is turned down. Disappointed, she finds her inspiration from the story of Mulan, a young woman in ancient China, determined to join the army in place of her father but must first overcome obstacles to protect her country and bring honour to her family.
Molly first heard about open auditions for the show in early 2024 and hoped for a role somewhere in the company.
“I thought I’d be part of the ensemble,” she says, noting the role is usually played by an older, more experienced dancer. “Then I got an email saying I got a lead role in the main cast! I was super excited, especially to get that role at 15 years old.”
My Mulan has been in production for five years, and Molly played the lead role last year. But this is the first time it will play in St. Catharines (August 8-10), meaning she will play to a hometown crowd.
“The interesting part is that as you’re watching the show, there are two timelines going on,” Molly says. “Michelle is experiencing Mulan’s story and finds her own strength to overcome her challenges.
Although she’s just going into Grade 11, Molly has thought about her future, and it definitely includes dance, a hobby she’s enjoyed since she was a toddler. She’s been interning with one of her dance mentors and is learning what goes on behind the scenes and teaches a competitive dance team, which she loves.
“I am interested in having dance as a part of my career path,” Molly says. “I think I will go to business school and also teach (dance). Maybe I’ll have my own dance studio. I want to do it all!”