Teens of Bay Area

Sabrina Anaya, a senior at Archbishop Mitty High School, discovered her passion for leadership by exploring everything from dance to modeling. Her mother encouraged her to try new things, which kept Sabrina busy, but committed to building a life of love.

One of Sabrina’s primary loves started with recreational classes at Hip Hop Craze, where she learned to find creative ways to move her body and later transitioning into a competitive team. Though she continued her dance journey at Lana’s Dance Studio, she focused on expanding her techniques, perfecting technical elements and exploring different styles of dance. Sabrina sees dance as an expressive art form, and being able to create and tell a story through her dance moves is what she most values.

“One of my favorite things about dance is you get to support from backstage, or if you’re in class you get to watch them from the sideline. I’ve always been a very big fan of being other people’s biggest fan. So I think that has definitely helped me find my own light from inside and then use that to dance” Sabrina said.

The road from a little girl who sang in the car to a dancer with a decade of experience, has had its share of stress and, sometimes, struggles with perfectionism. For Sabrina, focusing on gratitude and self-improvement helps her overcome potential negative cycles. This allows her to fully live in the moment, fully expressing herself through dance, as well as cheering proudly for her friends from the sidelines.

These days, Sabrina continues to dance and has also started modeling professionally through Paige Day Photography. Since she used to feel awkward in front of the camera, Sabrina still sometimes has to encourage herself to be expressive. She’s more cognizant about being communicative about any discomfort, and reminds herself to be free, so she, and everyone involved, can have a good time. She particularly loves the energy of shooting with big groups, of joking and connecting away from the internet and cellular devices.

Sabrina feels immense gratitude to her amazing coaches, photographers, but is most thankful for her mom, who always encouraged her to harness the love she has for all her passions within a positive environment. 

“Without my mother’s constant encouragement, I would have been more afraid to try something different” Sabrina said.

Despite how busy her senior year is, Sabrina wants to remind everyone about the importance of training, making a positive impact and being focused on ongoing personal growth. Her most important advice is to be as free from judgment as you can be.