Despite being only 13 years old, Kent dancer Trinity Inay\u2019s passion and dedication for dancing have brought her a respected following in the dance world and a position on a national TV show.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Inay and her mother, Tina, recently returned from competing on the second season of \u201cAbby\u2019s Ultimate Dance Competition\u201d, a Lifetime reality show at 9 p.m. Tuesdays headed by Abby Lee Miller. The grand prize? $100,000 cash and a scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Lifetime producers contacted Trinity and Tina through Trinity\u2019s dance studio, Allegro. Studio owner Tonya Goodwillie said that the mother and daughter \u201cwould be a perfect fit for the show.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Before auditioning on stage, the two went through a four-step interview process to see if they would be a good fit for the program. While some of the questions related to dancing professionally, Trinity says that they became more pointed to testing the dynamic between her and her mother.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not just dancing, it\u2019s also about the relationship that the mom and daughter have together,\u201d Tina said. \u201cHow do you react in situations such as, and they would give me an example.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cTensions ran high at the beginning of filming, Trinity said, but over time they warmed up.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we first met it was really tense, we didn\u2019t want to talk to anybody, we just kept to ourselves,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Over time, the group warmed to each other and developed strong bonds, said Tina. The students encourage each other, and the moms bonded as they watched their children compete and grow together, Tina said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cSlowly the process got easier. We became closer,\u201d Tina said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Trinity and her mother said that, despite the producer\u2019s attempts to engineer drama, \u00a0they worked hard to focus on performing and dancing as best they could instead of letting the stress get to them.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Tina felt that Miller had two distinct personalities on the show: the \u201ctough love\u201d Abby Miller when she was in front of a camera and a gentler side when she was out of the limelight.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cAbby didn\u2019t get famous being that nice on TV,\u201d Tina said. \u201cShe has a TV personality, which is different from her off the camera type of personality.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201dWhile Trinity\u2019s future on AUDC isn\u2019t certain, she has made many connections and opportunities through the show.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Tessandra Chavez, a choreographer on the show, invited her to tour as an apprentice with Pulse, a traveling dance clinic Chavez works with.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
As though that weren\u2019t enough, Trinity and Tina have spent time touring with performers from AUDC in the U.S. As she nurtures a budding career, she has had to take online distance learning classes from home to accommodate her busy schedule.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cIf anyone out there is going to audition for the show and they make it, Abby is always trying to help,\u201d Trinity said. \u201cJust block out the negative and focus on the comments.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
While the experience was stressful, she learned a lot. She was happy for the opportunity.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cIn order for people to believe in you, you have to believe in yourself, whatever your goal is.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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