Avery Webb: Competitive dance makes me a stronger pharmacy student

Being a dancer as well as an active member and leader of the South Dakota State University Dance Team isn’t just a sport for SDSU pharmacy student Avery Webb. It’s a foundation for a richer, more well-rounded life.

“Dance has become an outlet for me,” she said. “Whether it’s stress release or the friends I’ve met through dance and the sense of community I’ve developed, dance has made me a stronger person.”

Both science and dance have been parts of Webb’s life since she was a young girl growing up in Rapid City.

“I grew up in the Hills, dancing at a studio there,” she said. “My parents put me in dance when I was 3, like lots of little girls get put into dance class. Some people just fall out of it, and I didn’t. I tried every other sport, but dance was always my thing.”

Webb’s mom influenced her pursuit of STEM education, as well. “And I’ve always been interested in chemistry and science. My mom works in medical lab science, and so I grew up knowing that I wanted to do something in health care. I just wasn’t sure what.”

For Webb, that all changed when she toured SDSU.

“When I came and toured, I met with both the Dance Team and the College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions and fell in love with both. It just felt like home in every aspect,” she said.

The support system that surrounds her at SDSU has allowed Webb to flourish.

“It’s been really great,” she said. “The sense of community is huge. It’s so much more than just myself here.”

Webb also spoke of the support she has received from her professors, advisers and coaches at SDSU and, specifically, James Clem, College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions associate dean for student services and professor. “My interactions with Dr. Clem have been awesome. He’s been so supportive of me as a student and an athlete.”

Webb said that she faced some naysayers who encouraged her to let go of dance, especially before enrolling at SDSU.

“I've had lots of people that were like, ‘I wouldn't advise doing a sport while you're in pharmacy school. Your grades will suffer.’ Hearing those things? It was more of a motivator for me to say, I can do this. I want to be the girl that did it both and was good at both,” she said.

Webb definitely has succeeded at both.

"Avery is truly a role model within our program. She consistently leads by example and has played an integral role in shaping the legacy of our team. Over the past four years, it has been incredibly rewarding to watch her grow into a talented dancer and a respected professional," said Christie Pekoske, head Dance Team coach.

Webb thinks competitive dance actually makes her a better student. She has been on the dean’s list multiple times, with several 4.0 semesters, during her tenure at SDSU. She said dancing provides her with structure and has taught her adaptability.

“Dance is a huge time commitment,” Webb said. “In high school, I danced roughly 30 hours a week. You learn that you need to get your work done in those small breaks you might have during the day. Dancing in college is a whole new world of time management. I need to use my time wisely and, because of dance, I have improved with managing my time and balancing all aspects of my life.”

Webb’s time commitment to the Dance Team is significant. “We practice over three times a week, workouts, plus games and appearances, on top of my coursework,” she said.

According to Webb, SDSU’s Dance Team spends about half of its time performing at home football games and men’s and women’s home basketball games. The other half is spent preparing for and performing in the Universal Dance Association’s national competition as Division 1 team.

Held annually at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, nationals allow dance teams from colleges and universities around the country to compete in categories such as game day routines, jazz and pom, all areas in which the SDSU Dance Team competed in January. This year, the team made history, competing in the finals in all three routines, earning fifth in game day, sixth in pom and seventh in jazz.

Life is about to change, Webb said, as she finishes her bachelor’s degree and moves into her doctoral degree.

“The next chapter of my life is going to primarily be pharmacy. I always want to have dance in my life, but I will need a slight refocus moving forward. So, I will be going down to Sioux Falls and teaching at a dance studio there. I’m excited to get to teach the younger generation,” she said. “Dance will never, never fully be gone, that’s for sure.”

And dance is not something she ever wants to leave behind, nor does she think that others should give up anything that brings them joy in order to pursue an education.

“If you have to give up something that brings you so much joy just for school, it’s just not worth it. And to be honest, my grades have only gotten better from being in pharmacy school while dancing. It provides a good balance. It motivates you. It helps with stress,” she said. “I have no regrets about pursuing both here at SDSU.”

“I never really imagined a life without dance. I wanted to do keep doing what I loved,” she said. “Here, I didn’t even have to consider that. I am so grateful for all of the opportunities and memories being a member of the SDSU Dance Team has given me.”